Costa Blanca is the name of the Spanish south-eastern coast. It is a popular tourist destination, partly because of the weather. However, not only beachgoers will find something interesting here. Today I take you to Villajoyosa for delicious chocolate.
Villajoyosa is less popular than, for example, Altea. At least I heard about it much later. But what I heard was enough to make me want to visit these areas.
Everyone has their own idea of sightseeing. I prefer variety. A bit of walking around the city, magnificent mountain views, and if there is some time left, a little bit of sunbathing. After all, the Costa Blanca boasts of having over 300 days of sunshine during a year.
Cova dels Canelobres
Let’s start with a cave Cova dels Canelobres located about 30 kilometres from Villajoyosa. It is worth checking the opening hours beforehand. From what I remember, the entrances take place every hour, so sometimes you may have to wait a while. In front of the cave, there is a small cafe and the views are beautiful, so the waiting time can be spent in a pretty pleasant way.
Cova dels Canelobres is huge inside. The tour takes about an hour. Space and various rock formations are very impressive. Interestingly, the temperature inside is constant and is about 18 degrees. So in summer, it will be pleasantly cool and in winter warm.
When the tour is over, we can head into the town.
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa) is also known as La Vila. Some sources say that this name is translated as “happy town”. It is located in the Valencian Community and Valencian is the official language. Although it shows some similarity to Spanish (Castilian), the differences are significant. I associate the town’s name with a gem because “joya” in Spanish means “jewel, jewellery”. Both translations, in my opinion, reflect the character of the town.
Parking lot
A very important part of visiting cities is to park your car. As far as this is the mean of transport you use. We found a parking lot at Partida Puntes del Moro. Very conveniently located and free of charge.
The old town
The best-known part of Villajoyosa is traditionally the old town. Narrow streets between the cottages in different colours invite you to take a walk. The paths lead up, down, through the squares, stairs and fountains. The colourful cottages stretch all the way to the sea, where you will be greeted by 3 kilometres of beaches with palm trees and playgrounds, and a promenade with cafés and shops.
Chocolate museum
Apart from rainbow houses, Villajoyosa has something for chocolate lovers to offer. It houses the Valor Chocolate Museum. During the visit, you will learn a little bit about chocolate production and also, you will be able to taste this beloved by many specialities. Moreover, admission is free. However, it is best to check the opening hours and make a phone call in advance to book a tour. We went there during the opening hours, but the factory was closed. So I will have to visit Villajoyosa one more time.
Beach
Platja de Bon Nou surrounded by a cliff is located 3 kilometres south of the city centre. This beach looks splendid in the pictures. I think that it would be great to relax on it at the end of the day. This time we did not succeed in doing so, but the summer has just started, so there is hope that we will get there this year.
In the vicinity of Alicante, there are many beautiful towns, beaches and other attractions. Alicante itself is also worth seeing. There are mountains nearby, although mountain tours are better in autumn, winter or early spring. In summer it may be too hot for hiking.
PS. We have been on a trip to Villajoyosa a long time ago. But only presently I started to write about these places. Hence the discrepancies. In the pictures – jackets and coats, and outside the window – the heat and full sun. ?
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