city, Alicante provincia (province), in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Valencia, southeastern Spain. It lies about 45 miles (70 km) northeast of Murcia. Dating from Roman times, Villena was later part of the Moorish kingdom of Valencia and was taken by the Christians in the 13th century. The locality was devastated by an earthquake in 1829. Among the city's historic buildings are the Gothic churches of Santiago and Santa María and the medieval castle of the marquéses de Villena, on San Cristóbal Hill. The city is on the right bank of the Vinalopó River and is the centre of a grape-growing area. The city's industries produce wine, soap, salt, furniture, and shoes. Pop. (2007 est.) mun., 34,523.