Mun. Museums » Arch. Museum » Medieval and Modern Ages

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MEDIEVAL AND MODERN AGES

Inscription from the MosqueTitle: Inscription from the Mosque. Recently three Islamic farmsteads have been excavated in the l'Almiserà area, one of which had a rural mosque dated to the 11th-12th century. In 1300 the vila nova ("new town") of Vila Joiosa was founded, which once more became the main centre of the local region. Between the 16th and 18th centuries Vila Joiosa became famous in the Mediterranean in its fight against the North African pirates and in the 19th century large three-masted sailboats weighing up to 400 tonnes were constructed and traded with America and the Philippines. Around 1860 the port registered the second highest number of boats in Spain. In the display case a number of beautiful Islamic pots from l'Almiserà, inscriptions in Kufic Arabic script and a "lipsanoteca" (small lead case with an Arabic inscription used as an amulet) are exhibited. Also displayed is a coin of Jaume II, during whose reign Vila Joiosa was founded, and pottery brought by the first Christian settlers of the town from the Kingdom of Aragon

 

CANNONBALLS

CannonballsTitle: Cannonballs. These are large cannonballs that were fired from wide barrelled cannons used between the 14th and 16th centuries. These are good reminders of the important defensive role of Villajoyosa, which was one of the best fortified areas of the Crown of Valencia. Of these defences the magnificent Renaissance walls that surrounded the historic old town survive today which have been declared a "Site of Cultural Interest".

 

Hands on Model: THE HISTORIC OLD TOWN

Model of the Old TownTitle: Model of the Old Town. This model shows how the town looked at the beginning of the 18th century, when it had still not exceeded its walled area. You can appreciate its strategic position, next to one of the local region's two rivers, on a good defensive hill with good anchorage in the bay. Recent investigations have revealed that this historic anchorage, "La Vila beach", has been used as a port for nearly 3000 years.

 

Hands-on Model: THE L'AGUILO TOWER

Model of the Aguiló towerTitle: Model of the Aguiló tower. La Vila Joiosa was the capital of the "requerimiento" or local coastal defence district of the Marina Baixa up to Altea. A "Veedor" (Chief Inspector) in the name of the Viceroy and his "requeridor" (Inspector) organized the defence of the regions coast from the castle at Villa Joiosa. The Aguiló tower is one of the oldest watchtowers, constructed during the reign of King Felipe II (16th century) and the model demonstrates how these towers were constructed and how the system of defence worked.

 

Ajuntament de la Vila Joiosa
Museo Municipal La Vila Joiosa C/ Barranquet, 4 - 03570 La Vila Joiosa (Alacant) museo@villajoyosa.com | Credits