An archaeological treasure containing almost ten kilograms of gold, monumental spiral columns and a disused railway line offer very different discoveries in Villena. The Museo de Villena (MUVI) displays the Treasure of Villena: 66 items that were hidden 3,000 years ago. To plan your stay, you can first decide whether history, architecture or trails through the landscape should be your main focus. These themes offer different insights into Villena; some guided tours require reservations or take place at set times.
Plan your visits
Villena’s visitor service provides tourist information, arranges reservations for local tourist visits and sells tickets for municipal tourist attractions. If a particular activity is central to your plans, confirm your reservation and appointment before you travel. Guided tours of Castillo de la Atalaya are available by prior reservation. A reservation with Tourist Info Villena is required for a guided tour of the Museo Festero; the office is located next to the museum. Teatro Chapí offers guided tours for individual visitors and groups on one Sunday each month. Check the specific dates before planning these tours.
History in buildings and collections
Castillo de la Atalaya was built by the Almohad Empire at the end of the 12th century as a refuge for Villena’s Muslim population. Iglesia Arcedianal de Santiago was built between the 14th and 16th centuries. It has twelve monumental spiral columns, is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural and is considered one of the most important examples of Gothic-Renaissance architecture in the Comunitat Valenciana. Iglesia de Santa María was built in the 16th century over Villena’s former main mosque and is protected as a Bien de Relevancia Local. These buildings offer a way to compare different historical periods and architectural classifications.
Today’s Teatro Chapí brings together several dates in its history: it opened in 1925, reopened to the public in April 1999 after renovation, and features Neo-Mudéjar elements on its side façades and stage building. It is now considered one of the most important theatres in the Comunitat Valenciana. At the Museo Festero, both the building and the collection are distinctive features: the museum is housed in a four-storey former 19th-century bourgeois residence with Nolla ceramic floors. It displays costumes, festival images, posters, programmes and mementos from past festivities. The origins of Villena’s Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos date back to the late 15th century, when the Virgen de las Virtudes was declared the town’s patron saint.
The MUVI offers another perspective across time: its exhibits document human settlement in this comarca from prehistory, 50,000 years ago, to the present day. The Treasure of Villena comprises 66 items containing almost ten kilograms of gold. The same museum therefore highlights both an exceptional find and a broad overview of the region’s settlement history.
Nature and landscape
Protected areas in Villena are included in the European Union’s Natura 2000 network under four categories: ZEPA, LIC, flora micro-reserves and fauna reserves. Cabezo Redondo is home to a Bronze Age settlement dating back approximately 3,500 years. In the flora micro-reserve next to Cabezo Redondo, the endemic, endangered fish known as the Fartet has been reintroduced.
Various wetland and steppe birds can be observed year-round in the area of the former, drained Laguna de Villena. These include the Common Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Great Reed Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, Greater Short-toed Lark, Black-eared Wheatear and European Bee-eater. Which species can be seen depends on the season. Birdwatching is considered a sustainable, nature-friendly tourist activity in Villena; the opportunity to watch birds offers a different focus from the archaeological and architectural sights.
Different activity profiles
The Vía Verde del Chicharra is a disused railway line adapted for cyclists and pedestrians. It starts at the Santuario de Las Virtudes and ends in Biar; from there, you can continue to Alcoy. Its railway heritage includes abandoned stations, aqueducts and spectacular bridges, and the route passes through varied landscapes. The Vía Ferrata Castillo Salvatierra offers a different kind of activity: it is 115 metres long, has an elevation gain of 53 metres and is graded AD (slightly difficult). The route details and grade help distinguish this activity from the railway line adapted for cyclists and pedestrians. Check the safety and access conditions before using the Via Ferrata.
Discover more destinations: Els Poblets, Daya Vieja, La Florida, Xinorlet, Pedreguer, La Xara, Benifato, L'Atzúbia.
See the overview of the wider region: Alicante.
