Monuments

Discover one of the oldest historic centers in the municipality, centered around the Chapel of San Antonio Abad, a site of great heritage and cultural value.

Explore this peaceful rural neighborhood by following part of the ancient Camí del Peix (Fish Trail), a historic route used for over 2,500 years to transport fresh fish from the coast to the inland valleys and, later, goods such as fabrics and paper. It was also part of the Camino de Santiago.

Discover the origins of Poble Nou, the neighborhood that emerged amid the rapid growth of Villajoyosa during the 18th and 19th centuries.

This simple route takes in the places that marked the city’s expansion across the Amadorio River, from Plaza de la Luz to the Cervantes neighborhood, following the course of old paths and new thoroughfares.

Discover the growth of Villajoyosa beyond its walls. This pleasant, 2-km, easy-level tour lets you learn how the city expanded starting in the 17th century, taking in some of its most iconic sites, such as Colón Street, the Market, the Roman baths, and the La Barbera dels Aragonés House Museum. An ideal route for exploring the city’s history and heritage.

Next to the tower where Plaza de la Generalitat and Costera de la Mar meet, you’ll find the starting point sign for this route. It’s a highly accessible information panel: it’s wheelchair-accessible; features large print for people with low vision; text in Spanish, Valencian, and English; a raised-relief map of the area and text in Braille; audio descriptions and text accessible via QR code in Spanish, Valencian, English, French, Norwegian, and German; and a video in Spanish Sign Language. At the top of the panel is a visual map, and at the bottom is the tactile map.

Doctor Álvaro Esquerdo Street, popularly known as Carrer Llimons, is one of Villajoyosa’s most iconic historic streets. For centuries, it was one of the city’s main commercial thoroughfares and formed part of the old Camí del Peix, the traditional route connecting La Vila with Alcoy and the interior. Located next to the old town, it preserves the memory of the city’s former expansion beyond its walls. The street is named after Álvaro Esquerdo (1851–1921), a doctor from Villajoyosa and a prominent local benefactor involved in various educational and social projects in the city.

The Pont del Salt d’En Gil is a historic bridge spanning the Amadorio River, set in a natural environment of great scenic beauty. Dating back to ancient times and renovated in the 18th century, it is one of the most iconic traditional crossings in the heart of Villajoyosa.

The Enchanted Rock is a curious rock formation linked to one of Villajoyosa’s best-known folk legends. Located next to an old traditional path, this site is part of Villajoyosa’s folklore and oral tradition associated with the magical night of San Juan.

The Xarco Tower is a 16th-century coastal watchtower built to protect the coastline from attacks by Barbary pirates. Situated on a rocky promontory next to Xarco Cove, it was part of the defensive maritime surveillance system along the Valencian coast. It is currently designated a Site of Cultural Interest and is located on private property, so the interior is not open to the public.

The Olivera Grossa is one of the oldest trees in Spain and one of the most unique monumental specimens in the Valencian Community. Estimated to be approximately 1,400 years old, this spectacular olive tree was already producing oil during the time of the ancient Roman settlement of Xauxelles.

The Escalonades are a series of traditional pedestrian stairways that connect the historic center of Villajoyosa with Centro Beach, the boardwalk, and the city’s waterfront. These stairways were built to bridge the natural elevation difference of about twenty meters between the old town, which sits on a cliff overlooking the sea, and the beach below, and have been part of the daily lives of residents, fishermen, and merchants for generations.

In 2019, the Villajoyosa City Council and the group Espai de Debat en Positiu Equinocci launched a project to restore and highlight these traditional access points through artistic and cultural initiatives. Each “Baixada” is dedicated to a representative aspect of Villajoyosa’s identity, such as cinema, the Mediterranean, chocolate, or fishing.