| Villajoyosa | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Official Name: | / |
| Native Name: | |
| Nickname: | Catalan; Valencian: La Vila |
| Pushpin Map: | Spain Valencia#Spain#Europe |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alicante / Alacant |
| Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
| Subdivision Name3: | Marina Baixa |
| Subdivision Type4: | Judicial district |
| Subdivision Name4: | Villajoyosa / La Vila Joiosa |
| Elevation M: | 27 |
| Area Total Km2: | 20.45 |
| Population Demonym: | , -a (Val.) , -a (Sp.) jonense (locally, in disuse) |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Official language(s) |
| 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 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Marcos Enrique Zaragoza Mayor[1] |
| Leader Party: | PPCV |
Villajoyosa (pronounced as /es/), in Valencian: Catalan; Valencian: '''La Vila Joiosa''' (pronounced as /ca-valencia/), meaning "The Joyful Town", and officially Spanish; Castilian: '''Villajoyosa''' / Catalan; Valencian: '''La Vila Joiosa''',[2] 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 Catalan; Valencian: '''La Vila'''.[3]
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,[4] 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.[5]