Villajoyosa Old Town is one of the most beautiful in Costa Blanca with its colorful houses and bright street art.
The main attraction in the old town is, of course, the colorful houses and you won’t miss them (please don’t say you’ll miss them!) but that’s not all this historical part of town has to offer.
There are a few historical sites and cute corners you just don’t want to miss out on when visiting. Especially if you only have one day in Villajoyosa, you want to make sure you cover the highlights.
Read on to uncover the best spots and photo opportunities in the colorful old town of Villajoyosa!
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Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Highlights in Villajoyosa Old Town
As I mentioned before, the colorful houses are possibly the main reasons most people visit Villajoyosa, and rightly so.
Villajoyosa’s colorful houses aren’t just accidentally painted in a splash of colors. Neither was it a stunt to attract tourists.
The colorful houses of Villajoyosa originate from the era of fishermen. Since they were out at sea for several months at the time, they painted their houses in colors so that they could recognize them easily from the sea.
To this day, house owners are obliged to keep the houses painted in the original colors. I can’t think of a better homage to the town’s history.
Street Art of colorful houses
One of my favorite pieces of art in Villajoyosa Old Town is the wall painting of the colorful houses in Villajoyosa.
Maybe it’s because I love anything colorful, or maybe it’s just that it reflects the joyful spirit of the village as it’s set right in front of actual colorful houses.
It’s definitely one of the highlights you should look out for in the old town of Villajoyosa!
Street Art of fisherman
Just around the corner from the colorful paintings, you’ll see the most famous street art in town, the face of a fisherman.
Not only is it an impeccable piece of art, but it also entails everything Villajoyosa is and its history as a fisherman’s village.
The Town Hall Arch
The Old Town Hall is located amidst the maze of narrow streets lined with a splash of colors. The building bridges over the street into a picturesque arch.
In my opinion, it’s one of the most photogenic streets in Villajoyosa’s Old Town, as if there aren’t enough of them already!
The view of the houses on the old city walls
Ok, so this is a little bit outside the old town, but the view is of the old town. Walk across the Rio Amadorio River, and on the other side, you’ll get a good look at the colorful houses that are built on top of the old city walls.
It’s really cool how they’ve integrated the houses into the old walls. The park below them is also nice for a stroll.
Calle del Pal
Calle del Pal runs along a large space that historically was used to make and repair fishing nets. This required a large space and as this street was long, it was the perfect spot.
The nets were mainly maintained and made by the fishermen’s wives and back in the days the street was lined by the old walls, Muralla del Mar.
The fortified wall was destroyed in war about 300 years ago, but you can still see some remains of it in the higher-located houses.
Cinema Street
Cinema Street is located right outside the old city walls of Villajoyosa. It’s a cute little street with street art by different artists.
I really enjoyed it as it was something different from the regular street art you find when traveling.
Plaza Iglesia
Plaza Iglesia is a cute little square outside the main church of Villajoyosa’s old town, the 16th-century church-fortress, Iglesia de la Asunción.
There’s a restaurant on the square where you can enjoy food and drinks in a picturesque and vibrant corner of the town.
Iglesia de la Asunción
The town’s old church, Iglesia de la Asunción, is a must-visit when exploring Villajoyosa Old Town. The 16th-century church was built into the city walls and fortified to resist pirate attacks.
It’s located on Plaza Iglesia and while you can’t see the fortified part of it when entering, it’s a beautiful church!
The Old City Walls
Walking down towards the beach on Carrer Costera del Mar, you’ll pass a very well-preserved section of the old city walls.
These walls date back to the 16th century and aimed to protect the city against pirates from northern Africa.
Summing up the highlights of Villajoyosa’s Old Town
Summing up, Villajoyosa’s Old Town is full of hidden treasures you shouldn’t miss out on. I highly recommend taking your time getting lost in the streets and you might find more cool places than the ones I’ve listed above.
Besides exploring the old town, there are plenty of other things to do in Villajoyosa, like spending time on the beach and visiting the Chocolate factory and Museum.
Happy travels!