Villena

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Castle of la Atalaya, in Villena.

Villena is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Capital city from the region Alt Vinalopó, it has an area of 345.6 km² and, according to the 2006 census, a total population of 34,186 inhabitants. The river Vinalopó flows through the municipal term of Villena. The economy of the city is based on footwear (like in the neighbouring cities of Elda and Novelda), pottery, furnitures and wines.

Villena was settled by Iberians. After the Moor invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, the king James I of Aragon reconquered the city in 1240, establishing a marquessade in this area.

Some places of tourist interest in Villena are: the Municipal Palace, which keeps the Treasure of Villena, an Iberian treasure; the Castle of la Atalaya, constructed by the Arabs in the 11th century; the late Gothic Catholic church of Santiago and the Archeological Museum. It is also important its festival of Moros y Cristianos.

The Spanish zarzuela composer Ruperto Chapí was born in Villena in 1851. This city is also the place of birth of the jesuit priest Pablo Menor.