TOWN CHARTER
To travel back to medieval times, discover its smells and flavours, enjoy its music and festivals... To live history is what you can experience during the first weekend of May in La Vila Joiosa.
On May 8th La Vila Joiosa dresses up to celebrate the town’s origins. In 1300 the Admiral of King Jaume II, En Bernat d'En Sarrià, granted La Vila Joiosa its "Carta de Poblament". Although there are researchers who have discovered that the real date was the 8th March (the confusion was due to the manual transcription of the text), the celebration is still held on the first weekend of May.
On the Saturday afternoon The "Associació 8 de Maig" plays a show about the historical moment in which Bernat d'En Sarrià granted this Town Charter to the town. A street parade is also held, it is set in the time of the event, the 14th century, celebrated with medieval dances, music and animation, also people dressed up like the public figures mentioned in the Carta Puebla, to remind of the origin of the city marking its modern era.
Together with the show in which the "Carta de Poblament" is granted, a Medieval Market is held throughout the weekend in the streets of the Old Town, the best preserved historic centre of the Valencian Community, declared Cultural Interest Site. Unique streets full of history and colour, for a few days go back to the Middle Ages to entertain visitors and make them enjoy craft products, shows for children, gastronomy...
