The Villena Medieval Festival stands as one of the most expansive celebrations of medieval heritage in Spain. The event blends culture, commerce, and recreation to honor the story from the 5th through the 15th centuries. Over three days, from Friday through the following Sunday, visitors can step back in time and experience life as it once was.
Handicrafts, performances, talks, demonstrations, music, and hands-on workshops unfold in a dreamlike setting at the foot of Castillo de La Atalaya. Located along the El Rabal neighborhood streets, near Calle Mayor and the shadow of the city, the festival brings together the Church of Santiago and the Church of Santa Maria. In partnership with the El Rabal Neighborhood Association, Villena becomes the festival’s heartbeat, an arena where medieval battles unfold, weddings take place, and participants can join in the traditional Lettuce War.
With more than two decades of history, the festival features memorable rituals such as the Torch Procession, whose aim is to banish evil spirits. The evening is rich with symbolism as stalls showcase the finest potters, tanners, bakers, honey producers, and spice smiths, all harmonizing with regional gastronomy and celebrated wines from local, family-run vineyards.
Wide program of activities
The festival delivers a rich, varied program that honors Villena’s medieval legacy while welcoming visitors from near and far. Attendees can also visit the Villena Museum to see a Treasury replica, the Museo Festero, and the Museo Escultor Navarro Santafé.
The entire festival, beginning on Friday, highlights a dramatization of historic events, including the visit of Catholic Monarchs to Villena. Alongside this ceremonial start, music, fire displays, and medieval dances fill the historic center with energy.
The cultural program also features exhibitions such as Sephardic Women: Traces of Hispanic-Jewish Women, organized with Casa Sephardi de Córdoba, and studies on clothing and armament from the era of Catholic rulers. A wedding procession celebrating the marriage of Archduke Alba Mira Sanchís of Austria and Prince Don Amadeo Juan Galvis unfolds on Saturday as part of the medieval wedding celebrations at the castle.
The medieval city buzzes with activity. The King’s Bards perform at the San Antón Hermitage, workshops and storytelling for children are offered, and a magician named Victor Beneito adds a touch of wonder. A Celtic concert by Celta Distillery rounds out Saturday night. Photography exhibitions and educational workshops also enrich the program, alongside parades and international gatherings that captivate spectators of all ages.
Sunday morning brings back the Lettuce War, with two sides playfully contending on Castle Esplanade. The courtyard of Castillo de La Atalaya hosts dramatic, realistic medieval tournament reenactments that thrill both young and old alike.
The Medieval Festival is a street celebration that invites visitors to wander between stalls, discover new performances, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. As night falls and the fiestas extend, the city opens its doors to thousands of guests, celebrating a tradition that began centuries ago. These open celebrations welcome everyone and showcase Villena’s enduring history through the last fifteen centuries.
Villena offers an immersive journey into a vibrant era, inviting visitors to understand contemporary life by exploring the society of the past. All of this unfolds in a distinctive urban setting, where Villena proudly presents its history as if it were a city title earned centuries ago.
Check out everything prepared for the Medieval Festival here
When: 10 – 12 March
where: Villena
Complete activity program