Narrow streets, traditional groups of houses and a historic railway line shape different sides of Villalonga. The former Alcoy–Gandia railway line now runs through the town as the Serpis Greenway; a cultural route, a rural hermitage and natural areas complete the picture. The cuisine also has some distinctive features: Blat Picat uses wheat instead of rice, while Coques escaldades are made with wheat flour. You can plan your stay around local history, landscapes, festivals or regional dishes.
Townscape and cultural sites
Villalonga’s current urban layout developed on the former Muslim street plan. Narrow streets and traditional groups of houses, such as Cais, La Font and La Alcúdia, are part of this townscape. If you are interested in how the town developed, the present-day layout offers a tangible link to its earlier design.
“A Walk through Villalonga” is a cultural route featuring the municipality’s main cultural attractions. The Church of the Holy Kings, a Neoclassical building dating from the 18th century, is one of the route’s stops. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Spring is also included. The route thus links different religious buildings without suggesting they all belong to the same period.
The rural hermitage of Sant Antoni i Santa BĂ rbara dates from the 17th century and stands on a small hill near the historic centre. From the chapel square, a zigzag path passes a Calvary before reaching the hermitage. It is also accessible by car from another part of town. The site offers views of the village. The remains of the Moorish castle lie 1.5 kilometres from Villalonga and offer panoramic views as well as archaeological evidence.
Railway line and landscape
The former Alcoy–Gandia railway line is now called the Serpis Greenway and runs through Villalonga. Its features include tunnels, old railway structures and stretches immersed in nature. A route about ten kilometres long follows the former Alcoi–Gandia line and passes through eight tunnels. The railway was in operation until 1969, connected Alcoi and Gandia from the late 19th century onwards, and was colloquially known as the “trenet dels anglesos”. It is worth checking current trail conditions before setting out.
Racó del Duc is a natural area on the route from Villalonga to l’Orxa, which follows the former Alcoi–Gandia railway line. There are four “fábricas de luz” (power stations) there. The Circo de la Safor offers a different kind of landscape: a natural amphitheatre surrounded by mountains. Hiking, climbing and mountaineering are all possible in Villalonga. These varied features give you options for choosing between cultural sites, historic railway remains and landscapes.
Festivals and regional cuisine
The Moros y Cristianos festival takes place on the weekend before the patron saint celebrations in October and includes parades and major events. If you would like to plan your trip around the festivities, check the exact dates for the year in question. The Fira Gastronòmica i Concurs del Blat Picat is held around the first weekend of March; check the current dates before planning a trip around it.
Blat Picat is traditionally considered a typical Villalonga dish: a stew of meat and vegetables that uses wheat instead of rice. Coques escaldades are made with wheat flour. Varieties include open flatbreads topped with sardines, as well as pastries filled with wild herbs. Both dishes put wheat at the centre in different ways: as a substitute for rice in the stew, and as the basis for the pastry dough.
Discover more destinations: Burjassot, L'alcúdia De Crespins, Piles, Castelló De Rugat, Sumacà rcer, La Cuevarruz, Quartell, Petrés.
For the broader travel overview: Valencia.
