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The town of Villena is mainly known for two things. Although the impressive Atalaya castle attracts many visitors, the number 1 attraction is the so-called Treasure of Villena. This was found in 1963 after it remained hidden from everyone for more than 3000 years. The 'treasure' consists of 66 objects from the Bronze Age. From gold jewellery to silver bottles and from metal bowls to elegant jewellery. The find is now considered the most important prehistoric treasure in Europe.
It is logical that this unique collection is the centrepiece of the local archaeological museum. A museum that also provides a good insight into the development of Villena through the centuries.
The Atalaya castle is a tourist attraction because it is part of Alicante's castle route.
On the slope to the 12th century castle, visitors can expect a pleasant surprise. A cave system used to be the headquarters of a Tuareg squadron. Decorated in an Islamic style from the Middle Ages, a look into the caves is a nice warm-up for the castle visit.
However, the small town with around 33,000 inhabitants has much more to offer.
An important annual event is the Medieval Festival. This is held in the second weekend of March. This is taken very seriously in Villena. Of course, as with similar festivals in other municipalities, there is a market with handicrafts and demonstrations of falconry, archery and magic tricks. But the inhabitants go a step further here by decorating the streets and houses en masse. Many people are dressed in medieval costumes and even a wedding in typical clothing from that period is on the program. The festival is rounded off with a night walk with torchlight.
The town also has a shelter for exotic animals that have been abused or rescued from exploitation by the entertainment industry. The center can be visited in small groups by appointment. Birdwatchers will get their money's worth in the area. The same applies to wine lovers, because Villena is on the regional wine route. Both groups of people can download special brochures on these subjects from the tourist office's website.
Finally, a visit to one or more of the special museums is worthwhile. Villena has a museum entirely dedicated to the annual festival of Christians and Moors. There is also a museum dedicated to the work of the famous local sculptor Navarro Santafe. And definitely different from the rest is the Botijo museum, which houses a huge international collection of decorative pots and jars.
