Villena

Villena(Spanish:[biˈʎena];Valencian pronunciation:[viˈʎena]) is a city inSpain, in theValencian Community. It is located at the northwest part ofAlicante, and borders to the west withCastilla-La ManchaandMurcia, to the north with theprovince of Valenciaand to the east and south with the province of Alicante. It is the capital of thecomarcaof theAlto Vinalopó. The municipality has an area of 345.6 km² and a population of 34,144 inhabitants as ofINE2023.
There is evidence of settlement in the area fromMiddle Paleolithic.However, it is on dispute if the current city dates fromvisigothictimes or before, though certainly it existed in the 11th century, during theMuslim period.After theChristian conquest,it becameSeigneury,Principality,Duchyand finallyMarquisate,until the people, encouraged by theCatholic Monarchs, revolted against the marquis. In 1525Charles Vconceded the title ofCityto Villena.This is the most economically prosperous period, as shown by the monuments that survived to nowadays. Although a railway station was inaugurated in 1858,economy kept being mainly agricultural until the rural exode that took place in the 1960s. Then, the economic model changed rapidly so that currently economy is based mainly ontertiary sectorandindustry, chieflyfootwear,constructionandfurniture.
The historical city and surroundings contain an important group of historical remains,including two castles and several churches, hermitages, palaces and squares, as well as a number of museums, standing out theArchaeological Museum "José María Soler". Among the main cultural events are theMoors and Christiansfestival and the Concurso de Jóvenes Intérpretes "Ruperto Chapí" (Young Interpreters Contest).
The first known name of the area isAd Turres, which appears in theVascula Apollinariaand has been identified with some of theRoman villasorpostaein theVia Augustaitinerary, at some point between Villena andFont de la Figuera.Near the latter there is evidence of an old Tower already ruined by the 14th century.As for the origin of the termVillena, there is some polemic.Menéndez Pidalproposed an evolution from a hypothetic antroponymBelliusorVelliusand the sufix -ana, as inLucena(Lucius + -ana) orMaracena(Marcus + -ana), which would give the Roman wordBellianaorVelliana.However, Belliana or Bellius have not been documented in Roman times, as well as the evolution fromBellianatoVillenainvolves several phonetic difficulties.So, Domene Verdú indicates that the origin of the toponym would be the termبليانةBilyāna, purelyArabic, meaning "the filled (byAllah)".This Arabic term, documented from the 11th century on,evolved in two ways. On the one hand, following the rules of Medieval Spanish, toBelliena, as is written in theHistoria Roderici(around 1180). On the other hand,Bellienawas replaced by theAragonesetermBillenaafter the Christian conquest, which was carried out mostly by Aragonese. The current spelling was consolidated around the 15th century, since Spanish had totally lost the distinction between [b] and [v] and writing was attracted by the wordvilla, meaning "town".
The coat of arms of Villena has been used traditionally since at least 1477, but has never been made official.The castle in the first quarter comes from the symbol of theCrown of Castile, whereas the lion in the second quarter and the winged hand in the third are legacy ofdon Juan Manuel, second lord of the city. The three pinetrees and the pond in the fourth quarter refer to theLagoon of Villenaor theFuente del Chopo, formerly big wealth sources for the city; the first as asalt evaporation pondand the second as a source offresh water. The crown is a symbol of themarquisate of Villena. As the coat of arms has never made official, there are different versions according to the City Hall's terms of office, as well as certain polemic about the position of the second and third quarter.
Villena is placed northwest in theprovince of Alicante, in the comarca ofAlto Vinalopó. It is in the middle of an important crossroad which links the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia andCastile-La Mancha, in a natural corridor known asVillena's CorridororVinalopó's Corridor, since the riverVinalopóflows through themunicipal territoryof Villena.This corridor has been of capital importance since prehistoric times (this is the place where theVia Augustaled first into theMeseta Central), and, being at the middle of towns asBiar,Sax,Font de la Figuera,YeclaorCaudetemade Villena an important transports junction.Villena's municipality, having an area of 345,6 kmin the second widest in the province of Alicante.
Villena region played an important role during theBronze Age, and in the development of early metallurgy.
Cabezo Redondois an important archaeological site of the Bronze Age located on a hill 2 km from the town of Villena. It was a regional center inhabited between 1500 and 1100 BC, and probably belonged toArgaric culture.
After theIslamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsulathe city was calledMedina Bilyana(Arabic:مدينة بليانة) and was one of the seven cities mentioned in theTreaty of Tudmir. Calatrava knightsconqueredthe city by the kingJames I of Aragon. This caused some tensions betweenCastileandAragon, since Villena should have been reserved to Castile under the treaties ofTudilénandCazorla, so both crowns had to sign news treaties: TheTreaty of Almizra,TorrellasandElche.
After the Christian conquest, Villena becomes the capital of an importantseigneury, later duchy,principalityand marquisate, until the popular rebellion against the Marquis, instigated by theCatholic Monarchs.
The Cabezo Redondo gold hoard was an important archaeological find. It was made by the SpanisharchaeologistJosé María Soler García. The treasure was found in 1959, and contains 35 items of jewelry, including a tiara, finger rings, bracelets, and pendants.
Treasure of Villena, another find that is much bigger, was also hidden in the Cabezo Redondo area, near Villena, by its ancient inhabitants.This was also found, in 1963, by José María Soler García. It is the most important ancient treasure find in theIberian Peninsulaand the second one inEurope, just behind that from the Royal Graves inMycenae,Greece.
This find was not made at Cabezo Redondo, itself, but at the Rambla del Panadero, 5 km east of Villena. Nevertheless, it is believed that, based on its resemblance to the previous Cabezo Redondo hoard, the trove was buried by the ancient inhabitants of Cabezo Redondo.
Villena is home to the most crowded festival ofMoros y Cristianosin Spain.
It is also home to one of the biggest rock / heavy metal festivals in Spain,Leyendas del Rock, which takes place every August.
The economy of the city is based onfootwear(like in the neighbouring cities ofEldaandNovelda),pottery,furnituresandwines.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world no. 1 tennis player, developed theFerrero Tennis Academy, which has produced such players asGuillermo García-LópezandCarlos Alcaraz.
Villena is located close toAutovía A-31. It has two railway stations;Villena AVservingAVEhigh-speed railservices on theMadrid–Levante high-speed rail network, and Villena, which seesRenfelocal and regional trains.