Discover Villalonga: Serpis Greenway, heritage and local cuisine

Villalonga combines a town layout shaped by its history with the route of a former railway and a distinctive food culture. This offers different points of focus for planning your trip: you can explore the older parts of the town and its cultural sites, consider including the Serpis Greenway in your plans, or sample regional dishes. The following places and traditions give you a concrete basis for deciding which aspects suit your stay.

Historic town centre and cultural route

Villalonga’s present-day urban layout developed from its former Muslim plan. It includes narrow streets and traditional groups of houses such as Cais, La Font and La Alcúdia. This layout offers a different impression from individual buildings: it shapes the structure of the town, while churches and hermitages each mark particular points in its history.

The cultural route “A Walk through Villalonga” leads to the municipality’s main cultural attractions. Its stops include the Church of the Holy Kings and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Spring. The church is Neoclassical and dates from the 18th century. By including the route in your stay, you can explore Villalonga’s cultural attractions through a themed itinerary.

Another historic site is the rural hermitage of Sant Antoni i Santa Bàrbara. It dates from the 17th century and stands on a small hill near the historic centre. A zigzag path leads from the side of the chapel square past a Calvary; the hermitage can also be reached by car from another part of town. It offers views of the village. The remains of the Moorish castle lie 1.5 kilometres from Villalonga and offer panoramic views as well as archaeological evidence. The cultural offering therefore brings together a route, a hermitage and castle ruins, though they are different types of place.

Railway route and landscape

The former Alcoi–Gandia railway line is now known as the Serpis Greenway and passes through Villalonga. The route runs through tunnels, past old railway features and through natural areas. A path of about ten kilometres follows the former railway line and passes through eight tunnels. The railway connected Alcoi and Gandia from the late 19th century and operated until 1969; it was colloquially known as the “trenet dels anglesos”. If you plan a trip along the route, it is worth checking the current infrastructure in advance, as conditions may vary.

The Racó del Duc natural area lies along the route from Villalonga to l’Orxa, following the former railway line. It is home to four “fábricas de luz”. The Circo de la Safor is a natural amphitheatre surrounded by mountains. Hiking, climbing and mountaineering are other possible activities in Villalonga. The landscape thus brings together different features: the historic railway line, a named natural area and an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains.

Dishes and festivals

Blat Picat is traditionally considered a typical dish of Villalonga. The stew contains meat and vegetables; wheat is used instead of rice. Coques escaldades made with wheat flour include open flatbreads topped with sardines and pastries filled with wild herbs. The dishes differ in form: a stew is served alongside open flatbreads and filled pastries. At the same time, wheat is a common ingredient in both specialities.

The Moros y Cristianos festival takes place on the weekend before the patron saint festivities in October. It includes processions and major events. If you would like to combine your trip with these celebrations, check the specific event dates. The Fira Gastronòmica i Concurs del Blat Picat is usually held around the first weekend of March. Check the current event date if you are planning your trip around it.

Discover more destinations: Torre Baja, L'olleria, Almàssera, Aielo de Malferit, Sagunto, Tuéjar, La Presa, Estivella

For the full travel overview: Valencia.