History
of La Vila
The municipality of the Vila Joiosa had its first settlers in the Bronze Age. The hill where it is based is in the old quarter, which was an Iberian town and explanations exist to identify with the Alonis of the classical texts. The excavations of the Necropolis of Poble Nou, of the greater duration at present known for the Iberian culture (s.VI a.C.) have proportioned many materials of military use which are exhibited in the municipal museum.
During the roman period the region experienced a large peak which is translated in the identification of the town with Alona. From this we have gained archaeological remains which can be found in the `Museo Arqueológico Municipal´ During the middle ages the coast became deserted due to the pirate risk and in the VIII century the east became Islamic, until 1300 when the admiral of James II, Bernat d'en Sarrià, decreased the population. Vila Joiosa means the `happy town´, an attractive name for the new Christian settlers of the northeast peninsular.
The town had a castle which protected it; however, the one which we see today is recent, from the XVI century. This is an example of renaissance architecture, like the `torre vigías de la huerta´ (watchtower).
According to tradition, the settlers of La Vila Joiosa asked for the intersection of the saint of the day to repel an important attack of the pirates. From which the 29th July became the day of worship of Santa Maria as patron of the town, and since 1694 they have celebrated the festival of moors and Christians in her honour.
¿Do you want to live The Vilas History?
