Day trip to the Villena Medieval Festival & Market

THIS TRIP IS CURRENTLY FULLY BOOKED BUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL ADD YOUR NAME/S TO THE RESERVE LIST.

During the medieval festival, the historic centre of Villena is transformed to take visitors back in time to the Middle Ages: the locals dress up in medieval costumes and decorate the streets, the houses and facades, creating an atmosphere brimming with music and colour.  As well as the medieval market with over a hundred stalls selling typical products and handicrafts, there are also shows, displays and activities such as falconry, archery, magic, giants and parades.  Perhaps the highlight being “la lechuguina” – The Battle of the Lettuce!

Many of the restaurants promote the typical gastronomy of the city with special menus for the occasion, including typical dishes and wine from local bodegas.

ITINERARY

09.00 hrs:     Departure from Golden Star Apartments, Calle Bruselas, Arenal, layby by park

09.15 hrs:     Departure from Interiors, opposite side of the road, Javea port (a 3^rd pickup

 from Mas y Mas on the N332 if required).

11.15 hrs:      Arrival in Villena.

17.30 hrs:     Reboard coach for the return to Javea.

19.30 hrs:     Approximate arrival in Javea.

COST:  €15 per person (to include coach transport and gratuity). In case of subsequent cancellation, refunds are only possible if your place is sold on to another member.

Payment is required on confirmation of your booking, by bank transfer using the reference VILLENA along with your name. We regret that this day trip is not suitable for members with walking difficulties.

RESTAURANTS IN VILLENA AS ADVERTISED IN FESTIVAL BROCHURE

As it will be a Sunday, restaurants may well be busy and you may wish to book lunch for yourselves at one of the restaurants mentioned in the brochure.

In the Castle Zone

Posada Navarro, located at the door of the Castle.

Bar-Restaurant Granada:  Located in Avenida de Aspe nº8 . Great variety of dishes and typical products of the area. Good atmosphere and service throughout the weekend.

DiTrevi Restaurant:  Located in Calle Congregación nº1 . Mediterranean cuisine, rice dishes, tapas, skewers… Exceptional dishes and it is also part of the Wine Route of the province of Alicante, which is why they have a wide variety of wines from multiple sources.

More restaurants in Villena:

• Auroch Restaurant.
• The crown.
• Imperial Bar-Restaurant.
• Riesma Restaurant.
• Salvadoran restaurant.
• Warynessy Restaurant.
• Rodeo Burger & Diner.
• La Jaima Restaurant.
• Restaurant El Arrabal.
• Michelangelo restaurant.
  • PUBLISHED PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY 12^TH MARCH
  • 11:30 a.m. “IN LOVE TO THE BONE”: Children’s theater for adults. The minstrels of Lute. Count Lucanor stage.
  • 11:30 a.m. THE MARCH OF THE WHITE GREENWOERS. Parade from the Plaza de Santa María to the castle. THE MARCH OF THE GREEN VEGETABLES. Parade from the Plaza de Biar to the castle.
  • 11:30 a.m. MEDIEVAL COMBAT. Castle parade ground.
  • From 11:30 a.m. at 1:00 p.m. STREET CHESS, simultaneous games. Villena Chess Club. San José street with Rambla street. 
  • 11:45 a.m. “EL OREJÓN Y LA TORRE”: parade and medieval dance. Laughter Cultural Association. From Plaza Mayor.
  • 11:50 a.m. VICTOR BENEITO THE WIZARD. Medieval magic performance. Dragon Street.
  • 12:00 p.m. “THE 7 KEYS TO STORIES”. Colorin Colorado. Courtyard of the Third.
  • From 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. THE DRAGON IN LOVE. Activity for princes and princesses. Paulas College. Dragon Street.
  • 12:15 p.m. “THE BATTLE OF THE LETTUCE”. Decide a side (white or green vegetables) and join this crazy battle of lettuce. The Pencas of the Lagoon and the Turnips of the Pinar. Esplanade gate of the castle.
  • 12:30 p.m. MEDIEVAL COMBAT. Castle parade ground.
  • 12:40 p.m. “THE DISENCOURSE OF THE CID IN VILLENA”. Historical dramatization to say goodbye to the Catholic Monarchs. Cartoon Theater. It includes shows of: “Andalusí Dance” by the Qamar School, “Classical Dance” by the Municipal Dance School. Scenario Mirador del Castillo.
  • 12:45 p.m. VICTOR BENEITO THE WIZARD. Medieval magic performance. Dragon Street.
  • 1:00 p.m. “THE CAR OF COMEDY: MEDIEVAL TALES OF THE INFANT D. JUAN MANUEL”. Stables of the Marquis.
  • 1:00 p.m. EXHIBITION OF HISTORICAL FENCING. Knights of Al-Basit. Main Square.
  • 1:15 p.m. SELU THE ALCHEMIST. Magic performance. Courtyard of the Third.
  • 5:00 p.m. “EL OREJÓN Y LA TORRE”: parade and medieval dance. Laughter Cultural Association. From Plaza Mayor.
  • From 5:00 p.m. at 7:00 p.m. AZARKIA SOFT-COMBAT. Engage in incredible duels and battles with safe replicas of medieval weapons. Santa Barbara pine forest.
  • 5:15 p.m. SELU THE ALCHEMIST. Magic performance. Courtyard of the Third.
  • 5:45 p.m. THE VASALLOS OF THE EAR. Parade with the Danzas de Villena group.
  • THROUGHOUT THE MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL
  • WOMEN OF SEFARAD: TRACES OF SPANISH-JEWISH WOMEN. Exhibition of Casa Sefarad de Córdoba. Organized by the University Headquarters of Villena. Casa de la Judería, Calle Onil with Calle Cantones. 
  • CHRISTIAN CAMP. Knights of Al-Basit. Biar Square.
  • GOTHIC STAINED GLASS EXHIBITION. El Grec College. Colache Building.
  • ARCHERY. Exhibition Saturday and Sunday from 10-12:15 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Villena Archery Club. Main Square.
  • MEDIEVAL CANVAS EXHIBITION ON BALCONIES. Clam Art. Main Street.
  • PAINTING WORKSHOP ON CANVAS AND EXHIBITION ON FACADES. Artekarana.
  • VISIT TUAREG CAVES. Saturday from 12:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00. Entry €2. Moreria area.
  • VISITS “TUAREG EXPERIENCE” Tuareg House and Caves. Entry €5. Information and reservations: eventos@copevillenamqr.com or by phone 649 13 40 13. (Tour in English, Saturday and Sunday at 11.30 am) Moorish area. 
  • VISIT CAVES AND STUDY OF THE PAINTER JUAN MONZÓN GASCA. Guided tours €3. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Passes every hour. Liberty Street, 12.
  • NAZARI SWEETS. 
  • MUSICAL AND CARIOCA PARADES. Turdión Group and Andrea Acevedo.
  • VISIT TO THE BELL TOWER OF THE CHURCH OF SANTA MARÍA. Saturday and Sunday 11-13h. and 17-19h. 
  • EXHIBITION OF GIANTS AND BIG HEADS. Hermitage of San Jose.
  • BOLILLOS-BOLILLER@S. Bobbin craft demonstration workshop. Saturday and Sunday afternoon. San José street with La Rambla.
  • SHOW OF MEDIEVAL EQUESTRIAN ART. Yerbabuena Equestrian Club. Saturday and Sunday. Stables of the Marquis.
  • MEDIEVAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION. Dragon Street.
  • CYANOTYPY (ancient process of photography). Create your own medieval photographs by the hand of Ana Mary Aliaga and Paco Gisbert. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. Study room in the Patio de la Tercia.
  • MEDIEVAL VISITS (organized by Turismo Villena)
  • LA ATALAYA CASTLE: Self-guided visit with explanatory brochure. Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at 7:00 p.m. Last entry: half an hour before closing. Entry: €1.5 – Medieval Combat: €2.5. 
  • Friday, March 10th at 4:30 p.m.: Guided tour to Atalaya Castle in English. Tickets sales & Meeting point: Tourist Info Castillo de Villena (2 General Prim, St.) at 4:00 p.m. Price: €3. Reduced rate: €1.50 for: youth card, seniors over the age of 65.
  • VISIT THE FESTIVAL MUSEUM: Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 and 12:00. Prior entry at Turist Info: €1. Santiago Square.
  • GUIDED TOURS TO THE CHURCH OF SANTIAGO. Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Entry €1 at the Tourist Info Office, Plaza de Santiago, next to the Church. Sunday: church open for worship until 1:00 p.m. (free admission)
  • VISIT MUENS – NAVARRO SANTAFÉ SCULPTOR MUSEUM. Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Entry: €1. Calle Escultor Navarro Santafé, 46. 
  • VISIT MUVI – Archaeological Museum of Villena “José M.ª Soler”. Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Entry: €1. Calle Madrid, 1. 
  • Tourist Info Villena: Open 3 days from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Santiago Square.
  • Tourist info Castillo de Villena: Friday open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday we will attend you at the door of the Castle.