Villajoyosa

{{About|the town in Alicante|the municipality in Zaragoza|La Joyosa}}

{{Distinguish|Gioiosa (disambiguation){{!}}Gioiosa}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Villajoyosa

| settlement_type = Municipality

| official_name = {{Lang|es|Villajoyosa}} / {{Lang|ca-valencia|La Vila Joiosa}} {{No bold|(official)}}

| native_name = {{Nativename|ca-valencia|La Vila Joiosa}}
{{Nativename|es|Villajoyosa}}

| image_skyline = Villajoyosa, España, 2014-07-03, DD 35.JPG

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| image_flag = Bandera de la Vila Joiosa (2024).svg

| image_shield = La Vila Joiosa (corona oberta).svg

| nickname = {{lang|ca-valencia|La Vila}}

| motto =

| image_map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates = {{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=Villajoyosa|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of Villajoyosa.}}

| map_caption = Location of La Vila Joiosa

| pushpin_map = Spain Valencia#Spain#Europe

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{Flag|Spain}}

| subdivision_type1 = Autonomous community

| subdivision_name1 = {{Flag|Valencian Community}}

| subdivision_type2 = Province

| subdivision_name2 = 15px Alicante / Alacant

| subdivision_type3 = Comarca

| subdivision_name3 = Marina Baixa

| subdivision_type4 = Judicial district

| subdivision_name4 = Villajoyosa / La Vila Joiosa

| seat_type =

| seat =

| coordinates = {{Coord|38|30|19|N|0|13|58|W|region:ES_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 27

| elevation_min_m =

| elevation_max_m =

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 20.45

| established_title =

| established_date =

| population_as_of = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}

| population_footnotes = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}

| population_total = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}

| population_demonym = {{Lang|ca-valencia|viler}}, -a (Val.)
{{Lang|es|vilero}}, -a (Sp.)
jonense (locally, in disuse)

| population_note =

| population_density_km2 = auto

| blank_name_sec1 = Official language(s)

| blank_info_sec1 = {{Hlist|Valencian|Spanish}}

| timezone = CET

| utc_offset = +1

| timezone_DST = CEST

| utc_offset_DST = +2

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code = 03570

| area_code_type = Dialing code

| area_code =

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Marcos Enrique Zaragoza Mayor{{Cite web|url=https://villajoyosa.com/govern/index.php?idioma=Castellano|title=Equipo de Gobierno Local de Villajoyosa|website=villajoyosa.com|language=Spanish|accessdate=21 March 2024}}

| leader_party = PPCV

| website = {{Official website|http://www.villajoyosa.com/|www.villajoyosa.com}}

| module =

| footnotes =

}}

Villajoyosa ({{IPA|es|biʎaxoˈʝosa|lang}}), in Valencian: {{lang|ca-valencia|La Vila Joiosa}} ({{IPA|ca-valencia|la ˈvila dʒoˈjoza|}}), meaning "The Joyful Town", and officially {{lang|es|Villajoyosa}} / {{lang|ca-ca-valencia|La Vila Joiosa}},{{Cite web|title=Villajoyosa mantiene su topónimo en castellano al retirarse la propuesta para eliminarlo del pleno|url=https://www.lasprovincias.es/alicante/villajoyosa-mantiene-toponimo-20201119141118-nt_amp.html|date=2020-11-19|access-date=2024-03-04 |publisher=Las Provincias|website=lasprovincias.es |language=es}} is a coastal town and municipality in the south of the Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the historic and administrative capital of Marina Baixa county, and is located in the province of Alicante. The town is known locally simply as {{lang|ca-valencia|La Vila}}.Lonely Planet Costa Blanca Miles Roddis – 2002 – Page 216 La Vila Joiosa (Villajoyosa) postcode 03570 • pop 23,700 La Vila Joiosa ('Joyful Town') is, in fact, a fairly staid place for most of the year. Its patron saint is Saint Martha. Known to the locals simply as La Vila, it perks up in summertime, dons its glad rags and has a ...

It is the historic and administrative capital of the comarca of Marina Baixa and is located 32 km from the city of Alicante, in the coastal area known as Costa Blanca (White Coast). It has over three kilometers of beaches, including the Platja Centre (Central Beach), close to the town centre. The river of La Vila (incorrectly also known as Amadòrio) runs through the town.

The area is famous for its chocolate industry and tourism. One of the most popular tourist attractions is its Gothic Catholic church of the Assumption, with a Baroque altar piece. Another popular destination, the Royal Palm Casino (formerly Casino Costa Blanca), is now closed. The town's festival of Moros i Cristians,[http://alicante-spain.info/villajoyosa-moors-and-christians-fiesta/ Villajoyosa Moors and Christians Fiesta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512022630/http://alicante-spain.info/villajoyosa-moors-and-christians-fiesta/ |date=12 May 2012 }}, alicante-spain.info celebrated at the end of July, was declared an International Tourist Interest Festival. Currently, this festivity commemorates a boat landing from the Berber pirates that was repelled by the population of the town.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/G9A4-j-OwKI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200523224723/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9A4-j-OwKI&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9A4-j-OwKI&t=| title = CRISTIÀ – Moros & Cristianos Villajoyosa 2017 | via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

File:Playa Paraíso, Villajoyosa, España, 2014-07-03, DD 01-02 PAN.JPG