Houses on the City Wall

With the revenue from the silk tax, the “Generalitat” of the time financed the city wall that bordered the city along the Amadorio River. During the War of the Spanish Succession, La Vila Joiosa, along with Alicante, was the last city to surrender, and the Bourbon troops destroyed the city gates. Although La Vila Joiosa continued to suffer pirate attacks throughout the 18th century, by the end of the century the Algerian threat had disappeared and the city wall was no longer needed. It was from that point on that residents began building on top of it, unwittingly creating what would become the most photographed image of La Vila Joiosa.

A stroll along the Amadorio Riverbed—which has been revitalized and turned into a park—allows us not only to enjoy a green oasis in the heart of the city, but also to admire these colorful houses on the city wall from different angles. Interestingly, in this park—on the other side of the river—we find another unique building in La Vila Joiosa: the “Molí Reial de la Llobeta,” which is currently undergoing restoration.