José María Esquerdo was born in Villajoyosa in 1842, and was head of the Progressive Republican Party. He introduced modern psychiatry to Spain and founded sanatoria in Carabanchel, a district of Madrid, and also in Villajoyosa. As a Member of Parliament, he fought for the construction of the port and the railway in Villajoyosa. This is why his name is given to this promenade. The city of Madrid also named one of its main thoroughfares after him. Esquerdo died in 1912. In 1915, this statue, the work of Pedro Estany, was erected in his honour by public subscription. Multimedia guide  

This beach was situated facing the port from 7th century until 1936. Boats could drop anchor to 20m in La Fonda. Passengers and freight were ferried to and from the beach in smaller boats. From 14th century, it was the port for the region and stopover for the Flanders merchant shipping. The first lighthouse in the Marinas Alta and Baja was built here in 1833. It had a range of two leagues, which is 11 km., and was destroyed in a storm in 1949. In this panel you have a tactile image of the lighthouse.  Next to it was the…

In 1915 Andrés Martínez Segarra built a marine spa here that existed until 1970.  In this panel you have a tactile image of the Baths of Neptune. The beach closest to the port is known as Basseta d’Oli, literally ‘the oil pool’ but figuratively ‘the still pond’.  It is so called because it is sheltered and there are barely any waves.  On June 23rd the magical rituals of St. John’s Eve are celebrated here:  crowns of oleander are thrown into the water in memory of the shipwrecked,  bonfires are made with old objects and the first nine waves after midnight…

Formerly boats were anchored in front of Villajoyosa or dragged onto the beach. Only a few could take shelter beyond the small Punta de Alcocó. In 1835 Navy Adjutant Officer  García Camperodrew up a project for a port of refuge. When King Alfonso XIII visited Villajoyosa in 1911, the fishermen asked him to build it. In 1917 the engineer Julio Diamantedrafted a new proposal inspired by that of Campero. The first breakwater was built by the townspeople themselves between 1923 and 1936. Multimedia guide  

From 15th century there were royal shipyards that built ships for the monarchy and also for the corsairs. Around 1860 Villajoyosa had the second most important shipyard in Spain. There were also shipyards on the Torres, Varadero or Almadrava and Paradís beaches. In World War I the greatest schooners and pilot’s boats were built here. These sailboats, weighing about 400 tons, needed considerable depth to be launched. This is why the shipyards of the Arsenal, near the river, were moved here in 1918. Photography: Jonense schooner (1919) Multimedia guide

It is the largest Roman funerary tower preserved in Spain. It was built between 150 and 170 AD for an important citizen of Allon.  In 2016 we discovered that a gravestone kept in Vilamuseu and dedicated to Lucius Terentius Mancinus, probably belonged to the tower.  Originally the tower was closed off except for the holes on the east and west sides which were used for libations (wine offerings).  The rectangular opening was made in the Middle Ages in order to pillage the tomb. In 1543 the stones from the upper part were taken to rebuild the walls of Villajoyosa which…