Casa Museo la Barbera dels Aragonés

Casa Museo la Barbera dels Aragonés is a historic house museum in la Vila Joiosa (Villajoyosa), in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community. Known locally simply as "la Barbera", the building belonged for centuries to the Aragonés family and today is one of the few places in town where visitors can see the interior of a former landowning estate together with its surrounding garden.

Where does the name come from and who owned the house?

The name "la Barbera dels Aragonés" refers to the Aragonés lineage, a family of landowners who held significant political and military positions in the region from the late Middle Ages through the 19th century. According to the family's heraldic records, the line traces back to a Templar knight, Juan Aragonés, said to have arrived in the area with James I of Aragon in the 13th century. That is why the Temple cross appears on the family coat of arms and on several objects still kept inside the house. The Aragonés line died out in 1992, at which point the property passed to the municipality of Villajoyosa, which turned it into a museum open to the public.

What is the history of the building itself?

The house as it stands today was first built at the end of the 16th century, and it took its current architectural form after a major renovation carried out in the mid-18th century. This layered history means the building combines elements from different periods — from its plainer 16th-century core to the more representative 18th-century remodeling typical of wealthy landowning families' residences in the Marina Baixa region.

What can visitors see inside the museum?

The collection at Casa Museo la Barbera dels Aragonés spans objects from the 17th to the 20th century. Visitors can see preserved wall paintings, period clothing, tableware, furniture, and everyday and decorative objects that once furnished the house. Together, these pieces trace how the lifestyle of a wealthy landowning family evolved over several centuries, from the family's heyday to more recent times.

What surrounds the house?

The museum sits within a park that shares its name with the estate. A palm-tree-lined avenue leads up to it, and further into the grounds an old orchard survives, planted with citrus trees and other Mediterranean vegetation. Walking through the park is a natural extension of the museum visit, giving a sense of what the estate's surroundings looked like when it was still a private residence.

Who is this place for?

Casa Museo la Barbera dels Aragonés will appeal mainly to visitors interested in local history and residential architecture of the Valencian Community. Given its modest scale and intimate character, the house museum is best visited as part of a longer walk through the historic center of la Vila Joiosa, combined with other heritage sites in town.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Casa Museo la Barbera dels Aragonés located? In the town of la Vila Joiosa (Villajoyosa), in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.

Who owned this house? For centuries it belonged to the Aragonés family, landowners who held political and military positions from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century. After the family line ended in 1992, the building passed to municipal ownership.

What can you see inside? A collection of items from the 17th to 20th century: wall paintings, period clothing, tableware, furniture, and everyday and decorative objects that belonged to the house's former residents.

Is there a garden or park around the museum? Yes, the house is surrounded by a park with a palm-lined avenue and an old citrus orchard, which leads to the entrance and extends naturally into the visit.