Villena is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community of Spain, located in the northwest part of Alicante province. It serves as the capital of the Alto Vinalopó comarca and has an area of 345.6 km², making it the second-largest municipality in Alicante province. As of 2023, it had a population of approximately 34,144 inhabitants. The city occupies a strategic location bordering Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia to the west, Valencia province to the north, and other parts of Alicante province to the east and south.
Villena has a significant archaeological heritage. The city is home to the Treasure of Villena, discovered in 1963 approximately 5 km east of the city center. This hoard represents the second-largest ancient gold treasure in Europe after Mycenae in Greece and is displayed in the Municipal Archaeological Museum "José María Soler." The area also contains Cabezo Redondo, an important Bronze Age settlement dating to 1500–1100 BC, and earlier settlements from the Middle Paleolithic period. During the Islamic period, Villena was known as Medina Bilyana before being conquered by Christian forces under James I of Aragon. The city received its official designation as a "City" from Charles V in 1525.
Today, Villena is primarily known for its footwear manufacturing, pottery, and wine production. The city hosts the annual Moors and Christians Festival in September and the Leyendas del Rock music festival in August. Notable historical structures include the 11th-century Castle of la Atalaya and the Gothic Archpriestal St. James Church. Villena is well-connected by the Autovía A-31 highway and railway services, including a high-speed AVE station.