Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa’s old town was declared an Site of National Historical-Artistic Interest and Asset of Cultural Interest. The town, or La Vila, is ideal for wandering its streets, looking for the narrowest façade, taking photos with the green, blue and brown backgrounds of the doors of the houses and, of course, not forgetting a visit to iconic buildings like the Iglesia-fortaleza de la Asunción (Church-Fortress) or the famous Bajada del Cine (Cinema Stair case). Its proximity of the sea and the calmness of its people make everywhere much more special and a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle. In these charming surroundings, Be Line also has a corner set aside for you: Discover it!

The town has numerous sand and stony beaches with turquoise waters, to suit all tastes. Along its 15 kilometres of coastline you will find, among others, Cala Racó del Conill, playa del Torres, playa del Centro or playa Bol Nou beaches as well as the fantastic El Paraíso beach. You will be able to enjoy them from Be Line group’s accommodation, some are just a stone’s throw away! One of the most refreshing holidays.

Vilamuseu is home to La Vila’s history. A visit begins at the façade of this modern building which, during the 1950s, was the Dr. Esquerdo school. After an architecture competition, the work of a local architect was chosen: a new concrete building, contained within the original façade. Inside, in addition to the exquisite design of the rooms, there is a huge archaeological exhibition of the Romans that occupied the town of Allon. This includes everything from Roman amphorae to ingots weighing more than 40 kg, remains of the largest ancient Roman Shipwreck of the Mediterranean. Near to one of the accommodation, we have the best-preserved Iberian burial sites of the Iberian Peninsula, a real luxury.

La Vila is the home of chocolate and the town exudes a chocolatey aroma, it’s the universe of chocolate lovers. It has various chocolate factories which are each a museum in themselves and definitely worth a visit. In addition, the largest factory houses the Museo Valenciano del Chocolate (Valencian Chocolate Museum), one of the province's most visited places. When night falls, the chocolatey aroma spreads throughout the entire town, and reminds us of its origins, childhood and our culture. This aroma forms part of that special and unique smell that all Be Line establishments have.

One of the town’s most interesting attractions is the Central Market. From Monday to Saturday, and from early in the morning, the market opens its doors to offer a wide variety of fresh, local and high quality products: fruit and vegetables, bread and rolls, pickled and salted delicacies, and the best freshly caught fish from the fish market. For lovers of good wine and vermouth, the bars next to the market are a compulsory stop, and from any of Be Line’s accommodation, we will advise you of the best plan so you don’t miss out on any experience.

The activity starts in the area where the fishing boats dock at five in the afternoon. We see the boats that have come back from fishing since 5 am, others that have spent all week fishing around the islands, and the restaurants, hotels and fishmongers from all over Spain waiting for them to go on sale. The fish is auctioned in the fish market building and it is a spectacle worth seeing in itself. It has now been modernised substantially, but the authenticity is still palpable. You will see prawns jumping, octopus, squid, red mullet, all of the fish that you will be able to try in the area’s restaurants and at Be Line’s accommodation just a few hours later.

You can loudly and proudly say that the food in Villajoyosa is wonderful. Fresh fish from the bay, dried, creamy, brothy rice dishes, more than 40 ways of preparing bomba paella rice: abanda (rice cooked in fish stock), with hake and spinach, with red mullet and pumpkin, with cod and cauliflower, with rabbit and snails, with pork loin and vegetables, cuttlefish and artichokes.... Tapas from times gone by and preserved as tradition: blood with onion, potatoes with liver, coquetes, tomato in brine....popular culinary competitions: making fish, French toast, pebrereta pumpkin dish, there is something for every season. And for a snack, churros with chocolate and sea views on any of the Be Line group's balconies.

By bike or on foot, there are trails surrounding the town to suit every plan: El Paraíso, Torres de Vigía, Olivera Grossa, Pantano (reservoir), Mayadeta, Aguiló tower and a long list that will mean you need more days to fit them in. Also make sure you don’t miss the surrounding towns and villages with their typical mountain gastronomy, landscapes with almond and cherry trees, rainfed crops, natural springs and terraced mountainsides, a legacy from the Moors. Plans for one day or another, and you are bound to do it again. At Be Line, we have bikes ready for you so you just need to choose the route.

As with the rest of Spain, in Villajoyosa, we have lots to celebrate and many festivals to share: the patron saint of every neighbourhood with its open-air dances and fireworks, festivals of San Miguel (Saint Michael) in the district of La Ermita, San Bartolomé (Saint Bartholomew) by the sea, San Juan (Saint John) with its bonfires, Virgen de Tiscar (Our Lady of Tiscar) with its horses. To top it all off, the local patron saint festivities in honour of Santa Marta (Saint Martha), the Moors and the Christians take place from 23 to 29 July each year; however it falls, the town transforms and the streets are taken over by music and dancing. Be Line’s establishments simply cannot escape this contagious joy and also celebrate the festival filled with décor and adornments.