Finding history in Spain is hardly a difficult task – from the old city in Seville to the world’s oldest restaurant in Madrid, there’s no shortage of ancient sights and cultural monuments to explore.
And Villena, located in the northwest part of Alicante, is no exception.
It’s home to the Treasure of Villena, a collection of more than 60 gold objects that dates back around 3,000 years.
Discovered in 1963 by workers near the town, the Bronze Age artefacts are now housed in Villena’s Archaeological Museum.
And it was recently revealed that parts of the collection are not made from earthly materials.
The Treasure of Villena, a Bronze Age collection of artefacts, has been exhibited around Spain
Scientists revealed that two pieces of the collection were made from iron that fell from space – while the rest of the collection is made from finely worked gold, according to Ecoticias .
A team led by museum conservator Salvador Rovira Llorens made the discovery.
It is likely that communities at the time watched the sky closely, observing fallen meteorites, and learned how to turn such materials into objects.
The Treasure of Villena contains 66 pieces of various metals made up of bowls, bracelets, bottles and various pieces of gold ornament, three silver bottles, an iron bracelet, another iron piece with gold ornaments and an amber and gold button.
In total, it contains 10 kilos of gold, and is considered among the most important prehistoric treasures in Europe.
But the Treasure of Villena is not the only thing to see in the town.
The historic centre of the city is formed around the castle of Atalaya, a fortress built by the Almohad Empire at the end of the 12th century as a refuge for the Muslim population of Villena.
Visitors rave about the monument, with many taking to Tripadvisor to share their views – and highlighting the quality of guided tours.
One wrote: ‘Magnificent visit to the castle and excellent guided tour.’
Another added: ‘One of the best castles in the Valencià Country, in constant restoration. It is worth approaching and, if you dare, climbing the Tribute Tower. Dream views.’
The castle of Atalaya is the highlight of any visit to Villena in Spain
A third wrote: ‘Our visit to the castle of Villena watchtower was exceptional, thanks largely to our guide. His deep knowledge of history made every moment very enriching. Without a doubt, having an expert guide allowed us to know details that we did not know.’
When descending from the castle, you can explore the Gothic churches, narrow streets and white houses that make up the historic quarter.
You could also visit the outskirts of the city to see the Gothic sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Virtudes, as well as the nature park of Las Salinas.
If you’re looking for more action, the Moors and Christians Festival could be a vibrant event to attend.
Celebrations date back to 1474, and are held in honour of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes, the patron saint of Villena, who freed the town from the horrors of the plague.
As part of the festival, 14 musical groups take part in the festivities, half of whom belong to the Moorish side and the others to the Christian side.
There are traditional outfits on display, which are made every year, as well as musicians, grouped into more than 80 bands, accompanying the parades and processions with their music.
This year, the festival will take place from September 4 to 9.
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