HomeDestinations Interests Top Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Alicante For eight days, the whole city returns to the past by recreating a spectacular and brilliant battle that occurred in 1538 Los Moros y Cristianos in Villajoyosa is truly a unique festival and it takes place from July 24th to July 31st. The festival begins with a parade on the streets. Afterward, locals divide into two groups: one group stays on the ship while the other prepares to defend the city. They fight, and the ship retreats. The whole city rejoices and has fun with plenty of dancing and singing. Bester powered to victory in 1:16:40.221 on Mediterranean waters. Fellow South African, Jade Wilson, was the winner of the women’s U23 crown and was Bester’s closest challenger for the overall title, placing second in 1:21:02.152. Third place went to Spanish paddler Thais Delrieux, who crossed the finish line in 1:21:37.010. Known as the EuroChallenge, this year’s edition of the annual event attracted more than 230 paddlers from all over the world. In April, Bester was named national champion after winning the race from Simon’s Town to Fish Hoek to claim the South African SS1 Ocean Racing Championship. In 2024, she cemented her place among the world’s top paddlers when she won both the Open Ladies and U23 titles at the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships. In the men’s competition, South Africa’s Ulvard Hart bagged bronze in 1:07:07.188 as compatriot Kenneth Rice came fourth in 1:07:18.384. The overall first place was taken by Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht, who made history last year when he became the first European paddler to be crowned world champion. The German athlete sealed gold in 1:06:26.320 as he got the better of Portugal’s Bernardo Pereira, who won the men’s U23 title and finished second overall in 1:06:52.768. The World Cup served as a rehearsal for the 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championship, which will be held at the Spanish venue. It also helped paddlers gear up for this year’s World Championships, which will take place from 17 to 19 October, in Durban. Sections Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain Celebrate the power of jazz at a unique event showcasing both local and international talent on the Costa Blanca An afternoon and evening brimming with rhythm improvisation and sonic magic for enthusiasts of this universal genre on Saturday 3 May at Roger’s Temple Jazz takes over the Costa Blanca in an unforgettable day filled with creativity International Jazz Day Costa Blanca joins the global movement that each year pays tribute to this universal musical genre The Costa Blanca is not just a destination for sun and sea It is also the birthplace and haven of jazz musicians whose dazzling careers have graced the world’s most demanding stages Artists born beneath the Mediterranean sun or captivated by its light Names that resonate at prestigious festivals in New York Berlin and Montreal… and now you can experience them up close in an intimate This Jazz Day celebrates the international talent living among us a variety of artists will take to the stage to deliver vibrant performances ranging from the most classic jazz sounds to contemporary fusions with a soul of their own jam sessions and unique experiences will delight both die‑hard aficionados and newcomers to the genre alike Inspired by the global celebration of International Jazz Day promoted by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute Tickets are priced at €15. Come and experience jazz as you’ve never felt it before Read here more news about Costa Blanca North Read here more European news. Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox! Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Website#f81760d0e6ca3aed24d40b49{display:none} Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE! Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home. 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SpainChevron and places where some of Europe’s natural beauty can be experienced by simply taking a short walk This year, Spain has much to celebrate as the first two towns on the list are located in the country right behind it in second place is Ares del Maestrat less than two hours to the north of Valencia in the province of Castellón In third place, following the two Spanish towns, is Primošten, a village in Croatia just a one-hour drive away from neighboring Split It is followed by the Bokodi Floating Village in Hungary and Naantali in Finland Rounding out the top ten are Bøur on Vágar in Denmark’s Faroe Islands; Blåvand, Denmark; Ulm in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany; Aljezur in Algarve, Portugal; and Dartlo In 11th place there’s another Spanish destination: Castro Urdiales on the country’s northern Cantabrian coast Spain takes the honor of being the country with the most winners There are 18 total destinations on the list Portugal; Pont-en-Royans in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Villajoyosa is a picturesque seaside town has more than a dozen beaches and coves along its coast “This town in Alicante is exactly what we would like it to be,” the Spanish edition of Condé Nast Traveler said in 2018 which translates from Spanish to “happy town,” is entirely fitting Villajoyosa is located in the heart of the Costa Blanca a fabled stretch of Spain’s Mediterranean coast south of Valencia and north of Murcia and less than 20 minutes by car from Benidorm the colorful facades blend with the golden sands of the beach The story behind the town’s rainbow palette The different colors allowed fishermen to quickly find their homes even after long stretches at sea This picturesque seaside town has more than a dozen beaches and coves along its coast Playa del Torres and Playa de la Caleta (two of the most popular) Puntes del Moro and El Xarco are best for snorkelers while Racó de Conill and L’Esparrelló are two clothing-optional beaches which traces the journey of chocolate from cacao pods to desserts and candies A version of this article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveler España. This version was translated and adapted from the Spanish by John Newton. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Ukraine’s most celebrated deserter was gunned down in a Spanish beach town Illustration by Brian Stauffer for POLITICO The first person to spot the body was an elderly Spanish man who mistook it for a drunk passed out at the entrance of the parking garage Then he saw the blood darkening the dead man’s chest — and a white car flashing past him He was wearing something like a jacket,” the man recalled The dead man was carrying a fake Ukrainian passport so it took a few days for news of his true identity to trickle out the rumors flitted through Russia-affiliated news outlets and posts on the messaging app Telegram Ukrainian officials confirmed it belonged to Maxim Kuzminov a former Russian helicopter pilot who had carried out a high-profile defection the summer before flying his vehicle across the front line and delivering it to Ukraine Kuzminov had been rewarded with money and promised protection even as Russia declared him a traitor and called for his death And so the question then became: What was Kuzminov doing in Spain Ukraine had hoped his defection would serve as an example for others brave enough to resist the Russian regime bleeding out on the floor of a parking garage just about as far away from Ukraine as it’s possible to get and still be in Russia Russian media reports say he came from humble beginnings; little is known about his father but his mother was reportedly a seamstress who at one point dabbled in business with nearby China and South Korea Kuzminov’s main parental figure was his grandfather a decorated military pilot who would take his six-year-old grandchild along on his flights transmitting his passion to his young charge Kuzminov attended a military academy in the city of Syzran and he joined the Russian armed forces as a helicopter pilot. When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb Kuzminov suddenly found himself confronted by the reality of war — transporting troops cargo and military equipment in service of a war he would later say he didn’t believe in I was scared,” Kuzminov recounted in September after his defection “How could we start a war against such a beautiful country lit candles with one wish: that everything would be over as soon as possible.” It was sometime around the first anniversary of the invasion that Kuzminov started secretly communicating with Ukrainian intelligence As part of an operation called “Synytsia,” Ukraine had offered rewards of between $10,000 to $1 million to Russian soldiers who defected with their equipment Kyiv hoped that it could weaken Russia from within by convincing the Kremlin’s soldiers to turn their backs on the war effort Kuzminov was among the first to take up the offer. Lifting off in a Mi-8 transport helicopter from the Kursk airport near Ukraine keeping low to the ground and maintaining radio silence with whom Kuzminov had only shortly before hung out at a lakeside barbecue According to the version put forward by Ukrainian officials Kuzminov was wounded in the leg as the helicopter crossed the border his two companions tried to flee back to Russia The version put forward by some Russian state media claims that Kuzminov killed the two soldiers himself before landing his defection provided Ukraine with a public relations bonanza and Kyiv mined it for all it was worth. “This operation will have consequences for the moral and psychological state of Russia a Ukrainian military intelligence official Over the next few weeks, the baby-faced pilot held a press conference, gave multiple interviews and was featured in a documentary Kuzminov’s first public appearance after his defection addressing a large room filled with news-hungry reporters “What was the impetus for the decision to switch to the side of Ukraine?” he said “I decided for myself that this was the most brutal crime a Ukrainian blogger posted another interview with Kuzminov on YouTube Kuzminov told his interviewer: “I love my country any criticism of the Kremlin or the war is invariably demonized as an attempt to undermine the country from within Kuzminov’s words — and the pair of Captain America socks pulled halfway up his shins — were seen as tantamount to a declaration of war his defection turned him into the most hated man in the country — not just for switching sides but also for the deaths of the two other servicemen on his helicopter death threats flooded his social media accounts A man claiming to be his father publicly disowned him State television lambasted him as “the traitor Kuzminov.” a flagship news program aired a segment featuring masked men it identified as GRU agents planning to hunt him down “The order has already been given,” the narrator of the segment said “It is just a matter of time before it will be carried out.” Asked at the press conference how he felt about the threat to his life Kuzminov answered: “I am a very religious person a beach town of about 35,000 people about an hour from Alicante on Spain’s southeastern coast. who’d grown up in the impoverished Russian province must have felt tantamount to that of a rock star The stresses of his life in Russia and the war appeared to be behind him. But if he had moved to the Spanish Riviera expecting safety Many of the details of Kuzminov’s assassination remain murky But according to media reports and interviews conducted by POLITICO he was gunned down by two attackers in the parking garage of his apartment building Kuzminov apparently tried to run and made it to the ramp before he collapsed The Spanish Civil Guard said they found the burned out vehicle days later The murder sent a shock wave through the region which markets itself as a fairyland of rest and amusement for foreigners. Spain was quick to point the finger eastwards, with Spanish intelligence services telling the newspaper El País that Moscow likely tasked its hit men to carry out the assassination But Spanish authorities showed little enthusiasm in digging further head of the London-based Mayak Intelligence consultancy firm and a leading Russia expert said Kuzminov’s death looks much more like “an organized crime killing.” But “It seems entirely plausible that then the Russian state would have reached out to the gangsters and more or less said ‘We need you to do something for us.’” Villajoyosa has a sizable community of Russians and Ukrainians The town has a Russian Orthodox church and The Cala Alta residential complex where Kuzminov lived in the weeks before his death and where he was killed sits about 10 minutes from the seaside a pool and clay-colored paths where residents and their pets mingle among the palm trees and patches of grass When POLITICO visited the complex earlier this year The units that were occupied mostly hosted vacationers looking for a few weeks of escape It quickly became clear no one wanted to be reminded of the crime “Nothing ever happens here,” went one typical comment. who was the second person to arrive on the crime scene said he only spoke to Kuzminov once: when the former pilot asked him where he could dispose of the debris from renovating his apartment he saw him occasionally around the complex Several people said that the former pilot was a regular at a sports bar across the street from Cala Alta when people were asked whether they had seen Kuzminov they shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders. Workers at a local grocery store recalled him coming in on occasion A waiter at a nearby restaurant said he would sometimes see him around town he wasn’t very talkative,” a chef in a restaurant close to Kuzminov’s apartment said “He made a big mistake coming here to live.” Across the street from the garage where Kuzminov was shot a Russian man was having drinks in a café with a friend the news of Kuzminov’s death has been met with reactions ranging from gleeful celebrations to dismissive shrugs Contrary to the goal of Ukraine’s defection program onlookers are drawing a number of lessons from his assassination — and not the ones that Kyiv had hoped for One of Kuzminov’s childhood friends in Russia who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons good-hearted and very naive.” He said the former pilot had a “pliable temperament,” and that he likely deserted because “someone exerted pressure on him and he was afraid.” The promise of a big reward was likely also a big factor Kuzminov’s friends and relatives had been interrogated by the Russian security services and made to take lie detector tests Kuzminov’s entire group of friends from Russia had cut him off we all have a very negative reaction to what he did,” he said Russians — especially those critical of the government — have noted with alarm the ease with which two killers slipped in and out of Villajoyosa and got away with murder Spanish authorities have washed their hands of any responsibility. Intelligence sources told El País they did not even know that Kuzminov was in the country and that they had not been informed of his arrival. Spain’s Civil Guard won’t officially confirm that the body that was found was Kuzminov’s Requests for interviews with the Villajoyosa police went unanswered or at least none that have been made public authorities in the country seem to be treating the case as something best forgotten quickly fed by a series of incidents on British and continental soil that the Kremlin can reach into Europe and target its enemies with impunity. a 49-year-old Russian businessman who emigrated to Spain after facing pressure for his political views Kuzminov’s murder turned what should have been a major propaganda victory into a defeat If Kyiv’s most highly touted defector did not live to see the anniversary of his desertion how eager will other Russians be to cross over Rather than showcase the benefits of switching sides Kuzminov’s story ended up playing into the Kremlin’s hands by illustrating the mortal danger it entails the story appears to be one that Kyiv would rather forget A Ukrainian intelligence official suggested that Kuzminov himself was in large part to blame for his death: The program under which he defected offered the right to keep his identity a secret. so he got the money,” the official told POLITICO in March He would have been under protection in Ukraine but he came one day and told [us] he wanted to go abroad.” “We warned him that it was dangerous,” the official said “But he said he wanted to go [to Spain] anyway How would you imagine we could protect him Kuzminov goes through a beach in Spain in flip-flops and with $500k under his armpit and our two-armed fighters accompany him That is impossible outside our jurisdiction.” Kuzminov’s defection thrust him into the global spotlight A young man from Russia’s impoverished periphery he spent the last months of his life in comfort he could have only dreamed of as a child. he seems fated to sink back into obscurity Holy Week will begin in La Villajoyosa this Sunday This special day will be marked with a reenactment of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem by The Brotherhood of Jesus Triunfante The procession will include the ‘donkey’ along with boys and girls dressed as Hebrews Hundreds of locals are expected to take to the streets carrying palms and bouquets in their hands as they make their way to Our Lady of the Assumption Holy Monday will be commemorated with a procession through the streets of the Old Town and this will include a performance by the youth choir of the Ateneu Musical the ‘descent of the Nazarene’ will commence with hundreds of residents accompanying the brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno to the Hermitage church of the Virgin of the Assumption Wednesday will be dedicated to the procession of silence which will be led by the Christ of the Faith brotherhood This procession will be carried out under darkness with the only light coming from candles carried by the penitents illuminating the face of Jesus The silence will be broken only by the sombre rhythm of a drum there will be a procession led by the Ecce Homo brotherhood who will transfer the image of the ‘Lord of the Canyeta’ to the church of the Virgin of the Assumption Find more local news, activities, and profile interviews for Costa Blanca North. Prefer to read all your local news in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your local weekly news fix. Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Villajoyosa has officially prohibited smoking on all of its beaches becoming the latest Costa Blanca resort to join the Valencian Community’s Smoke-Free Beaches network covers all 13 beaches and coves in the area championed by Councillor for Health Maite Sánchez aims to create healthier spaces free from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke and its residue “We want to ensure that our beaches are safe and clean environments for both residents and visitors,” Sánchez explained “Tobacco not only harms the health of bathers but also pollutes the sand and sea leaving behind a negative environmental impact.” The initiative includes raising the ‘Smoke-Free Beach’ flag across Villajoyosa’s coastline with visible signs reminding beachgoers of the new rules public information campaigns will be launched to promote awareness about the dangers of smoking and its environmental consequences Sánchez said that “by joining the Smoke-Free Beaches programme Villajoyosa strengthens its commitment to sustainability and public health encouraging visitors to enjoy a cleaner and more respectful beach experience this summer” © 2021 The Leader Digital All 13 beaches in the town will fly the Smoke-Free Beach flag aiming to raise awareness among users about respecting their own health and the environment during their time at the beach The 13 beaches and coves of Villajoyosa have joined the Smoke-Free Beaches network of the Valencian Community explained that the Villajoyosa Town Council has once again requested this membership from the regional Department of Health with the goal of creating healthy spaces for citizens free from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke and its residues Varadero and Xarco will display the Smoke-Free Beach flag a symbol that promotes the habit of not smoking on the beach awareness and information campaigns will be carried out to educate the public on tobacco consumption and environmental protection This initiative seeks to encourage respect for one’s own health, the health of others, and the natural surroundings, so that all beachgoers can enjoy a healthy and sustainable environment. The aim is to position these spaces as healthier and more environmentally friendly tourist destinations, as “not only does tobacco harm swimmers’ health, but cigarette butts also damage the quality of the sand and water, and contribute to a negative image of the area. Tobacco consumption has fallen to its lowest level on record in Spain with 36.8% of the population aged 15 to 64 having smoked in the past 12 months and 25.8% doing so daily the use of e-cigarettes and other related products has doubled since 2018 Villajoyosa plans a grand celebration as the town marks its 725th anniversary May 8 officially marks the 725th anniversary of Admiral Bernat de Sarria’s granting of the Carta Pobla to Villajoyosa To mark this very special event in the town’s history a whole host of activities is planned between April 30 and May 11 so be sure to mark them in your calendar and join the local community in their celebrations It all kicks off on April 30 with the opening of the medieval market at the mouth of the Amadorio River and this will be available for the public to visit until May 4 There will be a Festival of Festive Music on May 1 featuring performances from three local music groups This will take place at the Auditorium Theatre Following this will be a very special ceremony on May 2 in which the Mayor will deliver the Joyosa sword to Bernat de Sarria 2025 This will symbolise the formal appointment of Miguel Lloret Perez as a knight Other highlights include the popular culinary event Con G de Tapas which will take place between the weekend of May 9 and 11 local bars will showcase their creative cooking skills by offering a variety of delicious tapas all while competing in the first Russian salad contest promising exciting flavours and friendly competition Details of the full exciting programme that has been planned can be found by visiting www.villajoyosa.com Prefer to read all your local news in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your local weekly news fix. La Villajoyosa has been recognised as one of the top ten destinations in the world according to Booking.com’s 2025 travel predictions This is based on a study carried out among 27,000 people from 33 different countries La Villajoyosa is the only Spanish municipality to have made the cut It is in very good company with the following locations also making the list: Sanya (China) This annual travel prediction study identifies the destinations likely to catch the attention of the travelling community in 2025 They each offer a wide variety of experiences from laid-back beach getaways to cultural visits and adventure-filled landscapes Booking.com highlighted the appeal of its ‘streets lined with beautiful palm trees overlooking quiet sandy beaches framed by the town’s distinctive coloured houses.’ Booking.com’s head of public affairs for Spain and Portugal presented a commemorative plaque to the mayor at FITUR on January 23 The mayor thanked Booking.com for the recognition: “This recognition is a pleasant surprise and a great joy for all of us reinforcing our commitment to sustainable tourism.” He said Find more local news, activities, and profile interviews. Prefer to read your news in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your local weekly news fix Wine and art lovers are in luck this month as the two hobbies collide in Villajoyosa Rincón del Arte say this is the perfect excuse to get out and about with friends or a partner and letting your imagination run wild decorating a wine glass The workshop comes with everything needed to do both the art project and wine tasting and costs €38 per person Attendees must be over 18 years-old and places are very limited so get in quick to reserve a spot via WhatsApp 965891572 email info@rincondeartejmorales.es or in person at their shop Rincón del Arte Need an excuse to get out and be social? We cover new activities every week here. The tram service connecting Benidorm and the Regional Hospital of Villajoyosa will be suspended for three months due to essential construction works being carried out The modifications will introduce a pedestrian walkway designed to “save” the tram tracks and facilitate a better connection between the Moralet and the Consell as preparations are underway to extend the tramway to the new Intermodal station The planned suspension of rail traffic will commence on January 28 This interruption results from the ongoing electrification and track duplication efforts in the section that links Benidorm station to the Hospital de La Vila Integral to these works is the urgent repair and reinforcement of three damaged embankments making it necessary to halt tram operations within this stretch during the construction phase passengers will have to rely on bus services to cover the distance between the two locations The discontinuation of the tram service between Benidorm and the hospital coincides with the anticipated reopening of another section specifically the route from Calpe to Altea which is expected to finish on the same date Both projects are significant as the Calpe to Altea line has been closed for months due to the construction of two new viaducts over the Mascarat and l’Algar areas Find more local news, activities, and profile interviews. 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La Libertina has a very special Valentine’s Day meal planned for February 14 is planning on having a beautifully decorated dining area and piano bar playing music whilst love is in the air From 7pm guests can experience the most romantic day of the year right next to the bay and whilst eating a carefully planned and delicious meal They have two menu options this Valentine’s Day both are three courses with different options the Venus Menu is €99 per person but includes three starters The mains dishes for the Venus menu include a cod dish and beef dish Their customers can enjoy the romantic ambiance of a piano playing live whilst eating some of the best food in Villajoyosa To make a reservation whilst spaces last phone 865 785 009 Visit them in person at the restaurant: La Libertina Discover how you can make Valentine’s Day an extra with exciting activities and fun meals out in the Costa Blanca North. political groups within the Villajoyosa Town Council signed a joint motion that unequivocally rejects the European Union’s proposed restrictions on fishing days The European Union recently announced that it is seeking to limit the working days of trawlers in the Mediterranean Sea to just 27 days a year this would equate to an 80% reduction compared to that of 2024 More than 100 fishermen from Villajoyosa also took part in a significant demonstration in Madrid on December 9 wishing to express their strong opposition to the EU announcement which saw a considerable turnout of local fishermen was organised by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds (FNCP) in collaboration with the shipowners’ association The event coincided with the opening session of the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the European Union in Brussels where discussions are expected to revolve around quotas and proposed cuts in fishing days The protest took place in front of the European institutions’ headquarters in Madrid where fishermen from diverse Mediterranean ports—encompassing regions such as Andalusia and Catalonia—joined forces to voice their concerns participants delivered a manifesto to representatives of the European Parliament in Madrid outlining their grievances and demonstrating the depth of frustration within the fishing community The Department of Social Services and Equality of Villajoyosa has successfully delivered diplomas to participants of the recent Spanish workshop designed for migrant citizens The latest edition of the Spanish workshop saw a remarkable turnout with 46 participants from 20 different nationalities This event took place on December 18 in celebration of International Migrants Day It also featured a lunch of traditional dishes representing the attendees’ diverse origins Mayor Maite Sanchez personally presented diplomas to the graduates of the Spanish language workshop organised by the Villajoyosa Town Council The workshop’s aim was to facilitate learning the Spanish language and promote social inclusion within the community Mayor Sanchez underlined the municipality’s commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive environment for all cultures Villajoyosa is home to citizens from 88 different nationalities with registered migrants making up 23% of the total population The Department of Social Services and Equality is excited to announce a new edition of this popular workshop scheduled to run from January 20 to March 27 Registrations are now open at the Llar del Pensionista social centre and will remain available until January 10 Find more local news, activities, and profile interviews. Alternatively, check out our online newspaper for your weekly local news fix! A fire inside the Valor Chocolate factory in La Vila Joiosa on Friday afternoon saw over 200 employees and visitors evacuated from both the factory and the company museum The fire was confined to a cooling plant where a number of compressors began to discharge thick black smoke the reasons for which are still a matter for investigation The company explained in a statement that “during the manufacturing process on Friday afternoon at it’s Valor Chocolate Valor plant in Villajoyosa as soon as the dense smoke was first seen the factory’s emergency plan was immediately put into action thanks to which there were no injuries with everyone both on site and in the museum properly accounted for that “it was quickly brought under control s a result of a joint operation composed of Firefighters who worked hard to bring it under control and quickly extinguish the fire.” The fire was reported just after 5pm inside a large room containing several refrigeration machines It had been brought under control by 6.35 p.m. An investigation is now being carried out into the causes of the fire by both the firefighters to “guarantee the safety of all Chocolates Valor personnel and to ensure that a similar situation does not occur again.” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa) is considering halting new tourist housing licenses to manage their use more effectively The mayor supports maintaining a model of “sustainable and non-massified tourism” and emphasises that this temporary suspension targets residential housing It does not prevent grouped investments or shut down the market in the municipality The issue of regulating tourist housing is gaining attention among city councils In the Marina Baixa and Marina Alta regions, towns like Altea and Polop have already taken or are planning measures to address this issue The goal is to balance tourist accommodation with residential housing Villajoyosa is the latest municipality to consider suspending new licenses while it deliberates on how to regulate this sector Mayor Marcos Zaragoza explained that his administration is considering suspending the issuance of licenses for tourist apartments in residential communities “This is a preventive measure aimed at promoting sector regulation that ensures legal certainty and anticipates potential overgrowth.” Currently, Villajoyosa has 1,782 registered tourist homes Between January and May 2024, 122 tourist homes were added, increasing the capacity by 558 places, according to City Council data Maksim Kuzminov flew a Russian miltary helicopter to Ukraine Then he was killed in an underground car park In some ways it is easy to see why Maksim Kuzminov chose to start a new life in Villajoyosa on the Costa Blanca brightly coloured homes dot the shore and Villajoyosa is famous for its chocolate More importantly, Kuzminov must have calculated he could blend into the Russian and Ukrainian communities that fill this corner of Spain with Slavic languages, food and faces. With a new identity – a passport claimed he was Igor Shevchenko – here was a place to hide in plain sight, safe from the vengeance of Vladimir Putin He lived in an apartment block ringed by other apartment blocks toast and ham alone at a nearby cafe and mostly steered clear of fellow Russians He avoided the supermarket with eastern European pastries and 52 brands of vodka The fantasy of escape ended on 13 February when gunmen shot the 28-year-old six times in his apartment complex’s underground car park The reported use of Russian bullets and the undisguised glee in Moscow reinforced the point: you cannot defect to Ukraine with an army helicopter deliver a propaganda coup to the Kremlin’s enemies leave the relative sanctuary of Kyiv and expect to survive The underground carpark where Kuzminov was shot six times Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian“Chronicle of an execution foretold,” said the Spanish newspaper El Periódico paraphrasing Gabriel García Márquez’s novella and it was hard to dispute the sense of inevitability “We all know what happens when you anger Mr Putin,” said a neighbour from the Netherlands Sources inside Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said they had warned Kuzminov that they could not protect him if he left the relative safety of Ukraine for western Europe They told him explicitly that Russian assassins could – sooner or later – come after him Kuzminov ignored their advice. He told them Spain was a democratic and law-abiding country where he would surely be protected “He wanted a comfortable life and was convinced that with such a sum of money Europe would be more attractive than Ukraine.” few residents of the apartment block in Villajoyosa wished to give their names or in some cases even acknowledge the nature of what happened “I heard about the accident,” said one man Initially the assassination did resemble an accident No one heard shooting on the evening of 13 February The elderly Spanish resident who discovered the body on the basement ramp thought Kuzminov had been run over “It was when the ambulance crew cut off his clothes we saw the bullet holes,” said Ruben Video surveillance cameras in the basement were working Two suspects are believed to have fled in a white Hyundai SUV that was found burning a short while after the murder about 11 miles south The novelty was the brazenness and the location For Putin’s regime, it would seem Kuzminov’s offence merited high-profile retribution. Last August he piloted a twin-engine Mi-8 AMTSh helicopter from Russia to Ukrainian territory Two crew members were killed after landing flanked by two uniformed Ukrainian service personnel the defector said he wanted to strike a blow against the invasion “I don’t want to be complicit in Russian crimes.” Russian state TV showed a man described as a Russian intelligence officer saying: “I don’t think he’ll live long enough to face trial.” Kuzminov could have stayed in Ukraine. Military intelligence officers who coordinated his defection say he initially agreed to join the Freedom of Russia Legion a group of Russian volunteers fighting with Ukraine He added that Kuzminov had not read the works of Viktor Suvorov who laid bare the brutal methods of Moscow military intelligence officials in Kyiv gave Kuzminov a Ukrainian passport He moved to Spain in the guise of Igor Shevchenko with Spanish authorities unaware of his real identity A picturesque town between Alicante and Benidorm including 800 Russians and 1,200 Ukrainians any of whom might have recognised him from the press conference Kuzminov lived on the top floor of an apartment complex Photograph: Rory Carroll/The GuardianHe lived in a neighbourhood called La Cala in a complex two blocks from the beach and a police station Neighbours said he lived on the ninth – the top – floor A young man in one of them declined to comment Many residents are foreigners and there is flux The caretaker had one interaction with Kuzminov: in December he advised him about where to dispose of kitchen debris Unconfirmed reports say Russian intelligence located him when he invited a former girlfriend to visit The killers’ swift getaway and the lack of witnesses suggest professional surveillance and planning for what would be the first Russian state killing in Spain The case presents a dilemma for the Spanish authorities Intelligence services do not doubt Moscow’s culpability but say it will be “very difficult” to obtain incriminating evidence Police have offered few updates on the investigation and Madrid has played for time “We have to let the Guardia Civil do its job and for the investigation to progress,” said Pilar Alegría Moscow has not claimed responsibility but exuded satisfaction. “This traitor and criminal became a moral corpse at the very moment when he planned his dirty and terrible crime,” said Sergei Naryshkin the chief of Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service is trying to return to normality and reclaim its mantle of cheer tourists will come and labourers will pick the lemons and oranges a slab at the Alicante Institute of Legal Medicine holds a very different harvest This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media creates a list each year of the best-hidden gems on the continent they’ve picked some really rare finds The highlights include Naantali in Finland, Pico Island’s volcano in the Azores, the charming half-timbered houses of Ulm in Germany the colourful painted village of Cicmany in Slovakia and the floating houses on Lake Bokod in Hungary the number one spot goes to… drum roll… Villajoyosa Located on the Costa Blanca in the Marina Baja region of Alicante Villajoyosa is celebrated for its wonderful climate: “Shielded from the north winds by the Sierras de Aitana Villajoyosa enjoys a pleasant microclimate and comfortable temperatures all year round.” The tourism platform boasts Villajoyosa’s unique architecture as a highlight: “The vibrant houses of Villajoyosa were painted by fishermen using the same colours as their boats.” Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Time Out straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Worldwide it boasts vibrant buildings and a gorgeous palm tree-lined beach Plenty of Europe’s well-known destinations boast ‘gram-worthy smatterings of colour – just think of the stacked little houses of Cinque Terre on the Amalfi coast or the vibrant streets of Burano in Venice. but there are plenty more lesser-known treasures on the list Another Spanish destination, Ares del Maestre, claims second place, and in third it’s Primošten, a stunning coastal village in Croatia. And in fourth it’s Bokodi, a floating village in Hungary. Yes, you read that right – the tiny town, which is about 80 km west of Budapest which were created in 1961 when energy from a nearby power plant warmed the Bokodi Lake’s water and kept it from freezing but the destination is (unsurprisingly) ridiculously popular with photographers today. You can read about European Best Destinations’ other top picks on their website here. Did you see that this airport just took the crown from Singapore as the world’s best Plus: You’ll soon need to pay a tourist fee to visit this Italian hotspot. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktok facebook twitter youtube About us Contact us the Annual International Rugby Seven a Side Tournament will be held at Villajoyosa Rugby Stadium on May 25-26 With 20 teams of national and invitational sides ambitious athletes will compete for the prize of cash and status The total €5,000 prize of the elite international championship will grant €2,000 to men and women and €500 to runners up The Tournament has now confirmed the teams to compete in the 2024 Seven a Side The 12 men´s teams confirmed include players include All Stars Sevens (South Africa) The women´s teams are Poland National Team Shangong Women (China) and Moldova National Team The event is supported by Generalitat Valenciana Diputacion Alicante and Patronato Turismo Costa Blanca Get your ticket here. Get quality reporting directly into your inbox if squatters remain undisturbed for more than 48 hours an eviction process may be required to remove them especially if they have moved their belongings in to make it seem as if they had a longer term arrangement According to a police statement issued last week a gang of at least six individuals was extorting the owners of vacation homes in the town of Villajoyosa but the scheme seems to have spread across the country they refused to leave or pay any amount for the use of the house Then they threatened the owners in exchange for very high amounts -14,000 euros- they would leave and their home would not suffer major damage,” Spain’s Guardia Civil said in a statement “The usurped houses were constantly occupied by the members of the group who in turn gave them to other relatives guaranteeing that there would always be people in the houses and thus avoiding being evicted,” it explained Some 100,000 properties in Spain are believed to be occupied by squatters, many of whom act in organized gangs like that in Villajoyosa, according to Spanish Property Insight The number of homes has been increasing rapidly every year from a large tourism and rental property industry with absentee home-owners to a lack of local housing has made the crime a major issue in the Iberian state One significant cultural factor was the countercultural Okupa movement that flourished after the fall of Francoist Spain The movement used squatter’s rights to claim derelict buildings in the city centers for migrant workers who had once been housed in slums at the city's fringes The same legal frameworks are now being exploited by criminal groups to extort homeowners such as in Villajoyosa the agents verified that it was not something isolated The group located short-term vacation-type rental homes and contacted the owners posing as a family interested in spending a weekend or several days,” Guardia Civil said “The leader of the gang was the one who made contact with the owners and received the keys she claimed that she had rented for a long time It was then that her husband's shift began one of the main people in charge of materializing the threats and extortions,“ Guardia Civil said Support from readers like you helps OCCRP expose organized crime and corruption around the world you’ll be directly supporting investigative journalism as a public good You’ll also gain access to exclusive insights and benefits and Spanish authorities said they have dismantled an Albanian organized crime group involved in smuggling people to the.. Authorities said that in two unrelated operations Spanish police recovered the largest amount of synthetic cathinones ever.. A British court sentenced a high-ranking member of an organized crime group to 21 years in prison for orchestrating the.. WHEN I first heard of the pastel-painted town near Benidorm that smelt of chocolate as we head out down Villajoyosa’s main shopping street comforting aroma wraps around us like a hug The Valor Chocolate Museum is our first stop Originally there were more than 40 factories producing the sweet stuff in Villajoyosa, founded when boats from Africa and South America arrived at the Spanish port laden with cocoa beans the three remaining factories offer free visits and tastings and it would be rude not to visit them all Valor has been making chocolate since 1881, and its bars are a common sight throughout Spain producing enough chocolate each year to circle the globe welcomes us into a retro chocolate shop with family photos lining the walls plies us with gooey hot chocolate and samples of their imaginatively flavoured bars Finally, we haul our bellies to Clavileño, named after the wooden horse which featued in the classic novel Don Quixote. before tasting the latest creation — pastel pink chocolate its colour naturally obtained from ruby cocoa beans Once we’ve had our fill of chocolate, we soon realise there’s more to Villajoyosa than confection which wouldn’t look out of place on the front of a chocolate box It’s said the bright colours helped fishermen locate their houses from the ocean in days gone by The river Amadorio opens out to the sea here overlooked by “casas penjants” (hanging houses) clinging to the cliffs Villajoyosa’s name translates as “joyful town” It was christened by Admiral Bernat de Sarrià Yet when we ask people who have settled here what they love most about La Vila is because they want to keep the town to themselves As we wander around the narrow alleyways of the old town a relaxed vibe oozes from the little bars and restaurants The atmosphere couldn’t be more different to that of busy neighbour Benidorm looming like a mirage of glinting skyscrapers across the headland The town’s pretty port sits towards the northern end laden fishing boats arrive there each afternoon A ribbon of bars and restaurants spill onto the tree-lined promenade pies made with meat or fish; and rice with onion and pumpkin It was once the site of a Roman military camp were designed to protect inhabitants from invaders arriving by sea Off the coast rests the wreck of the Bou Ferrer, a Roman merchant ship which was on its way to Rome at the behest of Emperor Nero when it sank The wreck was accidentally discovered by divers José Bou and Antoine Ferrer 25 years ago An exhibition about the vessel can be seen at the town museum until June 2025 A breeze tugs at the fishing nets strung above head height across the narrow streets a nod to the important role the town played in this industry bringing with it a waft of that tempting smell of chocolate As we enjoy paella on the waterfront at El Guitarra, a couple on the next table tell us how lucky they feel to have discovered Villajoyosa I can understand why people would want to keep this gem of a place to themselves See skyscanner.net to compare STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Hostal Rose are from £57 per night See hostalrosa.es Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Roman remains below the Barberes Sud park in Villajoyosa have intrigued archaeologist ever since the area was excavated between 2009 and 2012 They uncovered a series of interconnected pits beneath what was once an opulent Roman villa but thanks to last June’s excavations coordinated by the town hall’s Archaeological department Comparing the composition of the rock beneath a villa built between the end of the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD they found this matched the borders of a recently-discovered section of Roman road in Calle Requena The Barberes Sud pits were a quarry where the roadbuilders found the stones and gravel needed for the road In the period when Villajoyosa was called Allon and had earned the name of “municipium” this road linked the town with its outlying Marina Baja districts along the coast Following a route that did not deviate very much from today’s N-332 the 3.5-metre-wide road would have linked Allon with the Roman villa and settlement in Albir and another in Altea’s La Pila district The quarry was abandoned once the road was built and later filled with earth when the foundations for the Barberes Sud villa was built Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price 3 months 12 Bulletins) and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article Accessibility notices Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) will offer a bus service from Tuesday 28 January until the end of April between the Hospital Vila and Benidorm stations on Line 1 (Luceros-Benidorm) of TRAM d’Alacant due to the track duplication and electrification works that it is carrying out on this section FGV has arranged a bus service on this section with stops in Benidorm Costera Pastor and Creueta that will connect with the railway service in circulation at the stops of Creueta (in the direction of Luceros) and Benidorm (in the direction of Dénia) only the Terra Mítica stop will be without bus service The stops will be located at the following points: The planned works run through the municipal areas of Vila Joiosa Finestrat and Benidorm along a stretch of approximately 6.23 kilometres The affected area includes the immediate surroundings of the current line layout with a budget of close to 40 million euros is financed with funds from the European Union MRR The planned works consist of doubling the track at infrastructure level including the construction of a new viaduct over the Barranco del Murtal including the adaptation of existing drainage works the construction of a network of ditches adapted to current needs and the correction of damaged embankments new railway safety and communications facilities will be provided and the adaptation of existing ones including the modification of interlockings Work will also be carried out on the energy substations to meet the new network requirements and to update obsolete electrical equipment the Cala Finestrat and Terra Mítica stops will be rehabilitated with the new accessibility and equipment requirements and access to the Hospital de la Marina Baixa from the Hospital Vila stop will be improved with the installation of a lift to provide better access and meet accessibility criteria the fences along the section will be renovated/adapted and the Moralet path will be extended from the existing car park north of Benidorm station to enable it as a hiking route thereby creating a healthy route throughout the Moralet park To give permeability to the infrastructure and avoid bad passages a pedestrian walkway will be installed to connect the Moralet path with the existing greenway thus giving permeability to the infrastructure The works are scheduled to be put into operation by the end of 2025 The completion period for the works is one and a half years during which time train traffic must be temporarily suspended Maps and plans Copyright © Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana 2021 At TRAM d'Alacant we use cookies that store and retrieve information when you browse for technical and personalisation purposes as well as third-party cookies for analysis purposes You can obtain more information about the use of cookies and 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The interested parties are provided with basic information on the processing of personal data carried out by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana entity for the exercise of their authority; all in compliance with Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (hereinafter GDPR) as well as Organic Law 3/2018 on the Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights In accordance with the provisions of Article 4.7 of the GDPR determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data" shall be considered the Data Controller; in this case FERROCARRILS DE LA GENERALITAT VALENCIANA (hereinafter FGV) shall be considered the data controller In accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of the GDPR, the updated list of the processing activities that FGV carries out is available in the Register of Processing Activities (Registro de Actividades), hereinafter RAT, published on the website of of www.fgv.es/Portal de transparencia section Citizen Relations The personal data collected directly or indirectly from the interested party will be processed confidentially and will be incorporated into one of the processing activities owned by FGV that appear in its RAT When the personal data referring to the data subject is obtained from the data subject themselves the data subject shall be provided with the processing information the essential information about the processing will be provided on the collection form and a second layer of more detailed information will be indicated or linked from the collection form The processing of personal data will be in accordance with FGV's own functions and its use will be limited to those purposes for which it has been expressly collected If the personal data is intended to be further processed for a purpose other than that for which it was collected the data subject will be informed prior to the further processing about this other purpose and will be provided with any additional relevant information provided that the data subject does not already have this information The purpose of the processing of personal data will be that necessary for the administrative management and processing of the administrative procedures for which your data are requested, which will correspond to each of the processing activities carried out by FGV and which are accessible in the RAT No automated decisions will be made based on the processing of your personal data the legal basis for the processing of personal data by FGV is the fulfilment of legal obligations or the performance of actions in the public interest or in the exercise of public powers vested in the Generalitat Valenciana in accordance with the rules governing the actions of public administrations and Law 39/2015 of 1 October on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations and Law 40/2015 of 1 October on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector the Statute of Autonomy and the Law of Government some processing may require the consent of the persons affected by the processing In the cases in which the legal basis for the processing is the consent of the person concerned FGV will put in place mechanisms that allow the consent to be granted by a clear affirmative action from this person and in such a way that evidence of it can be preserved The legal basis that enables each of the processing activities carried out by FGV can be consulted in the RAT According to the provision established in Article 14 the data from the processing that are the responsibility of the administration of the Consell or its instrumental public sector may be processed by bodies that have a supervisory inspection or control function related to the exercise of public authority provided that this access to data is expressly provided for in the regulations that regulate them (General Intervention In general and without prejudice to the specific information published in the RAT the personal data processed by FGV will be kept for the time necessary to fulfil the purpose for which they are collected Once the data has been removed or deleted from the processing FGV may keep it in order to make it feasible to determine the possible liabilities that may arise from its processing or to allow its subsequent use after the adoption of the appropriate protection measures The data controller will not communicate or publish personal data without the consent of the persons concerned, except in those circumstances provided for by the legislation in force. The intended recipients of data transfers for each of the processing activities can be consulted in the RAT it may be necessary to communicate data or allow access to them recipients to whom it is compulsory to communicate data at the request of investigation The Data Protection Officer of the Generalitat FGV will not use the data for commercial advertising or any other purposes unrelated to its public authority The data subject may at any time exercise the rights guaranteed to data subjects by the GDPR under Articles 15 to 23 RIGHT OF ACCESS: The interested party has the right to obtain confirmation from FGV of whether personal data concerning them are being processed has the right to access this data and information regarding the purposes existence of automated decisions and their consequences and all additional rights of rectification RIGHT TO RECTIFICATION AND ERASURE: The interested party has the right to obtain the rectification of inaccurate or incomplete personal data concerning them from FGV the interested party has the right to request the deletion of personal data concerning them If there is no other legal basis for its conservation FGV will proceed to the deletion of the data when they are no longer necessary or have been processed unlawfully when the data subject withdraws their consent in processing that requires it RIGHT OF LIMITATION: The data subject has the right to obtain the limitation of data processing from FGV in cases of contestation of the accuracy of the data when the processing is unlawful and the data subject opposes the deletion of the personal data and requests instead the limitation of its use when the data subject needs to keep the data in order to formulate or exercise claims or while verifying whether the legitimate reasons of the administration prevail over those of the data subject in case the data subject opposes the processing RIGHT OF OPPOSITION: The data subject has the right to object to the processing of personal data concerning them FGV will cease to process these personal data unless it can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override the interests RIGHT OF PORTABILITY: The data subject has the right to receive their personal data in a structured machine-readable and interoperable format and to transmit it to another data controller provided that the processing is legitimised on the basis of consent or within the framework of the performance of a contract and the processing is carried out by mechanised means to have the data transmitted directly from data controller to data controller It shall not apply where the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest in the exercise of public authority vested in the controller are of a highly personal nature and can therefore only be exercised by the person concerned they may act through a representative in the cases and under the conditions provided for by the legislation in force The data subject may exercise their rights of access portability and opposition by submitting a request accompanied by their National Identity Card or equivalent through FGV's General Entry Register at Partida de Xirivelleta s/n 46014 - Valencia or Avenida de la Villajoyosa A/A Servicio de Protección de Datos Personales or through the Electronic Office of the Generalitat Valenciana If you consider that you have been harmed by the treatment that has been made of your personal data in the attention of the exercise of your rights or have detected any breach of current regulations on data protection by FGV as Data Controller you can file a complaint with the Data Protection Delegate of the Generalitat either through a general request for electronic processing: https://sede.gva.es/es/inicio/procedimientos?id_proc=22094 or in person at any of the Public Registry Offices in accordance with the provisions of Law 39/2015, of October 1, of the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations. All of the foregoing is without prejudice to the right to file a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency through the mechanisms they offer published on their website: www.aepd.es More information regarding the processing of personal data in FGV in the Personal Data Protection section or in the Transparency Portal, Citizen Relations of www.fgv.es or through the e-mail address: protecciodedades@fgv.es Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences TRAM d'Alacant uses other external technologies and services that use persistent and technical cookies As these providers will collect personal data such as your IP address we allow you to block them in this section The changes will take effect once you reload the page You can consult our cookies policy In partnership with the Federación Española de Rugby and World Rugby the Spanish town of Villajoyosa is set to host home nation Spain North American rugby giants USA and Canada and growing South American power Brazil in La Vila International Rugby Cup from 11-18 November Backed and funded by World Rugby, the exciting new tournament will be played at Villajoyosa's El Pantano stadium over two match days, with USA facing Brazil and then Spain playing Canada on 11 November, with a third-place play-off and final on 18 November. Tickets for both match days are now on sale All four nations came close to competing at Rugby World Cup 2023 and are now ramping up preparations for the next cycle of qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia will host the 2031 showpiece in eight years World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby World Cup 2023 has demonstrated how much our performance unions benefit from playing regularly not only against the best teams in the world but also in competitive matches against each other “As well as broader discussions on the calendar World Rugby is continuing to work extremely hard to create and fund opportunities like this working with new towns and partners with the ultimate goal being to increase competitiveness across the board.” At the tournament's unveiling the Mayor of Villajoyosa Marcos Zaragoza was joined by the Director General of the Federación Española de Rugby Miguel Ángel Martín enviable weather and a city committed to supporting the event through its passion for sport and rugby” “This type of event puts us on the map,” added Mayor Zaragoza “For fans desperate to watch more international rugby after the Rugby World Cup or maybe for those who didn't manage to get tickets for France 2023 we are here with four wonderful test matches this is a chance to promote our town and welcome new visitors from overseas.” Guillem Carrión said: “For four days in November La Vila will be at the epicentre of world rugby It is unprecedented to host an international competition of this stature in Spain and the name of Villajoyosa will be beamed around the world.” (World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini) 16:00 - Match 1 - USA (18) v Brazil (26)20:00 - Match 2 - Spain (19) v Canada (23) 16:00 - Loser Match 1 v Loser Match 2 (Third place play-off)20:00 - Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2 (Final) Buy tickets now >> Mariana Miné said: "The upcoming test matches are crucial for the development of the Tupis and Brazilian rugby we are seeing the South American teams achieving great results and this encourages us to continue working hard with the aim of following in the footsteps of our neighbours The opportunity to face other emerging teams such as the USA Canada and Spain guarantees precious games for our long-term development offering valuable experience for our players who need more challenging games to continue evolving.” Nathan Bombrys said: "We are greatly looking forward to sending Canada’s men’s rugby team to Spain in November We are pleased to have two more fixtures for the team this year and know that the players are excited to be back on the pitch representing Canada Thank you to World Rugby and the Spanish Rugby Union for their work in organising this competition." USA head coach Scott Lawrence said: “We’re grateful for the opportunity to spend additional time together preparing and playing in test matches as we wrap up 2023 Project Mercury We aimed to get the right players on board this year and believe we have a solid core both on tour and extended through the player pool that will compete well in Spain and push positive momentum into 2024.” La Font Restaurante is a cosmopolitan Bar in the first line on the seafront in the wonderful town of La Villajoyosa in the Northern Costa Blanca The name ‘Villajoyosa’ translates into English as ‘Joyous Town’ and this international restaurant certainly exemplifies the town’s joyous nature established in 2001 and was originally owned by Anna and Mike Pearce took over the business in 2017 after his parents’ retirement the restaurant is surrounded by mature shrubs and plants The restaurant serves delicious international cuisine with a congenial atmosphere which makes customers return time and time again Many of Brad’s customers have been coming to dine here for years with many of them becoming Brad’s personal friends That’s not to say that the business isn’t popular with the locals the restaurant serves dishes which appeal to a wide range of tastes There are a variety of tapas (raciones) including Mussels Russian Salad and many more traditional Spanish tapas Brad offers English dishes including a full English Breakfast served all day Steak with various sauces (salsas) as well as good old English Fish ‘n’ Chips There is also a very reasonable Menu del Dia which includes either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink There is also a Children’s Menu for the little ones to enjoy The restaurant is dog-friendly and there are two terraces one right in front of the restaurant and a larger terrace right on the edge of the seafront from which customers can enjoy spectacular views of the sea Brad is an extremely amiable and entertaining host with a ready smile and a quick wit which immediately makes you feel at home and as if you are one of the family Brad is ably assisted by his Spanish staff who provide excellent food with a smile Special requests are catered for and customers are always offered a ‘chupito’ The restaurant is open from Sunday to Friday from 10am to 6pm Brad attributes his success to the consistency of his food He says that he ‘loves having a laugh with the customers’ and he is certainly a fountain of knowledge about the area often making suggestions of places to visit to holidaymakers and he states that he aims to keep prices ‘lower than most other restaurants’ thereby providing quality food at a very competitive price La Playa in La Villajoyosa boasts many fine restaurants and dining experiences the standard of food and convivial atmosphere especially the undivided attention of Brad and his staff Owners Casino Mediterraneo have now presented rehabilitation plans for the gaming area at the town hall with work commencing within months if permission is granted. the company does not rule out including an hotel and other leisure facilities opened in 1978 and attracted clients from all over Spain and Europe Its closure in March 2010 was prompted not only by the 2008 “boom and bust” crisis but also growing competition from online gambling. This came as a blow to the casino’s 121 members of staff some of whom had worked there for more than 30 years and also to La Vila town hall which lost a valuable source of income Sources at the Urban Development department quoted in the Spanish media revealed that the Casino owners have not yet made a formal application for a licence the town hall does not foresee any problems owing to the project’s relevance both economically and regarding employment,” the same sources said A Hotel built in paradise may just come true as Villajoyosa´s building development moves forward The City Council released the decisions made during a plenary session on May 2 to enhance the evaluation of the plot in Paradis beach The building development began this year with an investment from the Sol y Sombra Benidorm-based company, who are part of the Media Hoteles group The plot on which the hotel is being installed used to belong to the City Council who put it up for auction after which it was bided and bought by Hotel Sol y Sombra The company shared the potential of the plot, stating that it is located in an “important residential population and close to the sea, with a beach and promenade the land allows for a ground floor with an addition of eight floors and has 30 per cent green area in response to the total surface; together making it a highly appealing tourist destination the President of the Villajoyosa Fisherman’s Association shares how pollution is threatening the livelihoods of fishermen all over the world the President of the Villajoyosa Fisherman’s Association to discuss the changes that he has seen in the ocean Having spent his whole life working at sea Llorca offers a unique perspective when it comes to the huge increase in pollution that fishermen are currently witnessing as well as the effect that this has had on fishing stocks. we used to collect rubbish in our nets and then just throw it back into the sea but it was normal and we didn’t see pollution as a problem back then.” Llorca begins We are always told that it is the fishermen's fault but we believe that there are fewer fish because of the pollution Noticing the link between declining fish populations and a vast increase in pollution Llorca decided to collect the rubbish that he was capturing in his nets rather than throwing it back into the sea. The collected waste is used in the manufacturing of sustainable clothing from recycled ocean plastic giving the rubbish a new lease of life on land. “My idea was to convince other fishing fleets and it was not easy as they didn’t understand They didn’t feel that it was their job I told them the truth - that the only people that make a living from what is in the sea are us If we don’t look after our environment the fishermen of Villajoyosa have collected over 700 tonnes of rubbish from the ocean he speaks of his frustration at the lack of government policy and assistance “It is frustrating that none of the authorities recognise the work that we are doing for the ocean “It is very important [that there is an international treaty against pollution] as we sometimes find rubbish that has come from other parts of the continent If we don’t manage this on a global scale the rubbish gets caught in the currents and if some countries don’t collect rubbish and others do the problem is never going to go away.” “I fought for this so that the sea could be better My father passed the ocean on to me and I want to pass it on in good shape I make my living from what lives in the sea as it is what provides my livelihood.” which will be presented at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) later this year Llorca urges decision-makers to put decisive policies in place to prevent pollution from ending up in the sea. “If we as fishermen do not look after our own today then we will not be able to earn a living tomorrow So my message would be that all countries need to try harder They need to stop this rubbish from ending up in the ocean They need to let us continue to follow sustainable fishing and then support us to do that.” A 33-year-old Ukrainian man has been found murdered in Villajoyosa It was reported that an eyewitness had seen the victim struck by a car on the ramp of an underground car park but then later revealed that he had been shot multiple times The victim was shot on the second floor of the car park before trying to escape but collapsed on the ramp where he was found The eyewitness also reported seeing a car driving away This vehicle was later found on fire further down the coast The shocking event took place in an area popular with tourists Residents of the urbanisation where the crime occurred said they did not know the man which is home to a number of people from Eastern European nations The Guardia Civil are investigating and one theory is that the murder was carried out to settle a score Hope Brotherton so finding somewhere without the crowds can be a little tricky But one Spanish seaside town in Valencia has been named Europe's best-kept secret by a group of travel experts Villajoyosa has been crowned Europe's best hidden gem for 2024 by the travel website European Best Destinations The Spanish seaside town bagged the top spot thanks to its colourful beachfront properties and gorgeous beaches Nestled between Alicante and Benidorm, Villajoyosa is home to multi-coloured buildings that wouldn't look out of place in the Italian Riviera The town's origins are believed to date back to the Greek colonies that settled on the Spanish coast the town's centre was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest The town is protected from the cool north winds by Sierra de Aitana (a Spanish mountain), which means Villajoyosa enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year, including highs of 32C in the summer With more than 12km of coastline, the beaches are arguably the town's most coveted attractions. including Playa del Centro which is covered in soft golden sand Meanwhile, Playa de Torres is the town's main beach - the sandy spot is lined with colourful beachfront houses There are several other beaches including Playa del Paraíso Cala Mallaeta and Playa del Bol Nou - an unspoilt cove Other attractions in the Spanish seaside town include the Western and Levantine Walls with the remaining parts overlooking the Amadorio River There's also the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción - a church turned fortress that's surrounded by colourful houses The church can be easily spotted thanks to its imposing walls Villajoyosa also has important ties to the history of the chocolate industry because the town was one of the main ports for importing cocoa from Venezuela and Ecuador One of the chocolate-related attractions in Villajoyosa is the Valor Chocolate Museum which explores the history of the chocolate industry in the town Other attractions include Vilamuseu - an archaeology museum with a large collection of ancient jewellery and artefacts There's also the Sant Josep Tower Aguiló Tower which was built in the 16th century to defend the town from Turkish raiders Hotels in Villajoyosa can be purchased for as little as £50 per night Villajoyosa is a 30-minute drive from Alicante Airport Both Ryanair and Jet2 operate direct flights from the UK to Alicante And Villajoyosa isn't the only Spanish seaside town that's relatively unknown to most Brits The Spanish seaside town of Ribadesella is loved by locals and unknown to most British holidaymakers Located on the north coast of Spain the town is a popular spot among Spanish holidaymakers Ribadesella was founded by King Alfonso X in the 13th century Meanwhile, Almodovar del Rio in Andalusia has been named as a "must-visit" destination in Spain Located between the Guadalquivir River and the Sierra de Hornachuelos Nature Reserve and mountain range Almodovar del Rio is a Spanish hilltop town One of the town's main attractions is its medieval castle, which had a starring role in the seventh season of the hit TV show Game of Thrones Spain’s cheapest city break has also been revealed and a bottle of wine costs under £4 and it’s warm in November One British expat, who lives Cadiz, has revealed the three big mistakes tourists make while they're on holiday And, another travel expert, who visits Spain eight times a year, has shared the big mistakes tourists make that can cost holidaymakers money were discovered by chance in 2006 when soundings were carried out prior to building an hotel in the centre of La Vila’s old quarter Part of the site was excavated and subsequently covered over to protect the remains until a wide-ranging project could be launched the baths that were built when Villajoyosa was called Allon were concealed beneath a weed-covered plot of land the site is being cleared and the baths will once again be brought to light drawn up between Villajoyosa town hall and the Diputacion provincial council established six separate phases for creating the museum The €157,837 cost of the first two phases will be split evenly between both bodies. Once the site has been cleared Future phases will include installing a roof to protect the remains uncovering the initial findings and creating a museum for public use. Villajoyosa’s Historic Heritage councillor Xente Sebastia revealed that the town hall is now waiting for information regarding funding for the third phase Brazil will have a new head coach in Emiliano Caffera when they face the USA Eagles in the La Vila International Rugby Cup on Saturday but while he hasn't had much time to develop his plans Fresh from Chile's historic Rugby World Cup debut at France 2023 Emiliano Caffera is back in Europe again in his new role as Brazil head coach with Os Tupis joining USA hosts Spain and Canada in the La Vila International Rugby Cup in Villajoyosa who was Chile's defence coach at France 2023 will take charge of Brazil for the first time on Saturday when they face the USA Eagles at Estadio El Pantano in the opening match of the World Rugby-funded tournament with a second match to come against either Spain or Canada on 18 November While Caffera is still getting to know his new players he certainly has the experience to lead Brazil's development given his playing and coaching days After 35 tests for Uruguay and playing at Rugby World Cup 2003 in Australia Caffera began working with his national team alongside his former team-mate Pablo Lemoine he was an integral part of the development and growth of the Uruguayan high-performance plan a key element in the taking-off of Uruguayan rugby He then followed Lemoine to Chile where a new process took Los Cóndores to France 2023 O novo ciclo de trabalho das seleções brasileiras vai começar com cara nova. Seja bem-vindo Emiliano Caffera, novo head coach das duas seleções adultas de rugby XV!Saiba mais sobre a novidade:https://t.co/d9zpmdAJgl pic.twitter.com/5OdlPsumaS “I was named after an open selection process,” explained Caffera hours before his debut as an international head coach He was finally announced as head coach soon after returning from Rugby World Cup 2023 I am only getting together with the players in Spain,” he says about his start in the job “The first week will be about getting to know them see a few things they already do well and others than can work better It will be about meeting players and then setting the goals In his new role Caffera will not only be head coach of the Brazil men's team but also the women's national team He will add more staff members to the existing group to ensure there is growth in the high performance plans of a country that is dreaming big “What is sure is that I will work hard to try to take Brazil to the highest they can aspire to,” he said “I’ve seen the last few games of the men’s and women’s teams and there is huge potential taking Brazil as high as we can and work hard on their high performance.” The expansion of Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 in England to 16 teams and the recent announcement that the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia will feature 24 teams means that more opportunities exist for qualification for nations like Brazil once the qualification processes are confirmed The goal and plans are aimed at growing the HP base for both genders.” Brazil will continue to have Josh Reeves with the team in the short-term although the director of rugby will now be able to focus solely on that role leaving Caffera in charge of the national teams “I will have those few days of getting to know everybody not trying to interfere too much in the team or the planning for the game against the Eagles.” Caffera will have only one day before As Yaras tackle Portugal in Sao Paolo where he will repeat the process of getting to know the players and increasing his involvement with the team for the second test of the series The yearly pebrereta competition held in the beautiful town of Villajoyosa pays homage to an extremely popular local dish Pebrereta is one of the most representative dishes of Alicante’s Villajoyosa where there is an annual competition in which locals vie for the honour of being the best pebrereta chef in town The Villajoyosa Town Hall is organising what will be the 28th edition of the competition There will be musical entertainment and a tasting of the traditional dish Registration for the competition has closed and around 40 people will take part The three winners will receive a commemorative plaque a voucher for a restaurant and a voucher for produce from the Villajoyosa Fishermen’s Association “Pebrereta is a very traditional dish in Villajoyosa It is a dish that is prepared in a different way in every house which is what gives this competition its uniqueness I hope that many people will come to the competition on June 3,” said Marta Sellés Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram The Marina Baixa Hospital in Villajoyosa applies a €102,6 million budget to provide the best The regional health councillor, Marciano Gomez, stated during the last weeks of March, that the budget for developing the Villajoyosa hospital has been increased from €57 million to €102,6 million The development project will increase the hospital´s capacity Gomez emphasised that the remodelling will benefit not only the patients but also the professionals: “So they can provide quality attention.” including a diagnostic imaging area with two CT scan rooms There will also be a new emergency department with a short-stay unit ensuring the efficiency of local healthcare and patient experience A free newsletter from Tortoise. 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