{"id":46472,"date":"2025-07-14T10:51:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T08:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.winalist.fr\/blog?p=46472"},"modified":"2025-07-16T14:33:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T12:33:04","slug":"villena-things-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/spain\/valencia\/villena-things-to-do","title":{"rendered":"Top Things to do in Villena Spain: Plan Your Next Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Looking for somewhere with castles, wine, and just the right amount of chaos? Welcome to Villena.
Tucked away in the Alicante province, Villena<\/strong> is one of those places that catches you off guard, in the best way. It\u2019s got a towering castle, Moorish history around every corner, and a local energy that pulls you right in. Add in bold regional wines, epic festivals, and views for days, and suddenly your \u201cquick visit\u201d turns into a full-on love affair. From exploring the legendary Treasure of Villena to getting swept up in the Moors and Christians Festival<\/strong>, there are plenty of unforgettable things to do in Villena. And if you\u2019re planning a wine tour in Valencia<\/a>, this town deserves a solid spot on your route. Come for the culture, stay for the wine, and don\u2019t be surprised if you start checking rental prices by the end of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the best things to do in Villena?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Explore the iconic Atalaya Castle <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Rising high above Villena, the Atalaya Castle<\/strong> has been keeping watch since the 12th century, and it still knows how to impress. Built in the Almohad style<\/strong>, this fortress has seen both Moorish rulers<\/strong> and Christian kings<\/strong> come and go, its thick walls and square towers holding centuries of stories. Climb to the top and you\u2019re rewarded with views that stretch across the countryside and straight into your camera roll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wander the streets of the old town<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Villena\u2019s old town<\/strong> doesn\u2019t try to impress, it just is. Winding alleys, weathered Gothic corners, and those perfectly crooked balconies that make you stop mid-walk. Arched doorways peek out like they\u2019ve got secrets, and every street feels like it\u2019s been waiting patiently for someone to notice it. You won\u2019t need a map, just follow the mood, your camera, or the smell of something good coming from a kitchen around the corner. This is where Villena quietly shows off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visit the impressive Church of Santiago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Right in the center of Villena, the Church of Santiago<\/strong> is one of those places that pulls you in with quiet confidence. Built in the 14th century<\/strong>, it\u2019s all graceful Gothic arches<\/strong>, intricate columns, and that kind of soft, echoey calm you don\u2019t find just anywhere. The ceiling alone is worth the stop. Even if churches aren\u2019t usually your thing, this one has a way of making you slow down, look up, and breathe a little deeper. Plus, it\u2019s just a few steps from everywhere else you\u2019ll want to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Celebrate the Moors and Christians festival <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Every September, Villena turns up the volume with marching bands, elaborate costumes, and dramatic reenactments that bring centuries-old rivalries back to life. The streets buzz with energy, color, and that proud local spirit you only get at a truly rooted tradition. It\u2019s loud, theatrical, a little chaotic, and completely unforgettable. If your trip lines up with the festival, you won\u2019t just be watching history, you\u2019ll be in the middle of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enjoy hiking routes around Villena\u2019s natural surroundings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Once you\u2019ve had your fill of history and wine, lace up your shoes and head for the hills. The natural surroundings around Villena<\/strong> are full of scenic hiking routes that wind through pine forests, rocky trails, and peaceful valleys. You\u2019ll pass olive groves, old windmills, and maybe even spot a wild ibex if you're lucky. It\u2019s the kind of landscape that invites you to slow down, breathe deep, and get a different perspective on the region, one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the best things to do around Villena?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take a first stop at Biar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Only a 12-minute drive from Villena, the hilltop town of Biar<\/strong> is one of the best-kept medieval treasures in the Province of Alicante<\/strong>. With its maze of cobbled streets<\/strong>, arched passageways, and timeworn stone houses, it feels like walking through a living museum. At the top sits Biar Castle<\/strong>, originally built during the Almohad Caliphate in the 12th century, and later adapted under Christian rule. Its towers and views echo the same quiet grandeur found at Villena\u2019s Atalaya Castle, linking the two towns through centuries of shared history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taste natural wine where tradition meets experimentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step into a rustic, no-frills cellar where wine is made with heart, hands, and hardly any intervention. Just outside Villena, this family-run project takes a bold, natural approach, organic grapes, spontaneous fermentation, and zero additives. You won\u2019t find flashy marketing here, just honest wine and passionate people ready to show you how it's done. Taste unfiltered reds, bright Mediterranean whites, and discover how the wild side of winemaking can still feel rooted in tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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