La Encina town hall

La Encina town hall sits at the heart of this small settlement, a pedanía (rural district) of the municipality of Villena in Alicante province, in the Valencian Community. The building serves as the local administrative office for residents, though La Encina is not an independent municipality — it has remained under the authority of Villena's town council for decades, with the local office acting as an on-the-spot point of contact for official matters.

What is La Encina, and how did the settlement begin?

La Encina lies in the northwestern part of the Villena municipal area, roughly 18 km from the town itself, in the Alto Vinalopó comarca. The name comes from an old roadside inn (venta) built around 1840, around which the first houses gradually appeared. The settlement's real growth, however, came from the railway: in 1852 a concession was granted to build the Almansa–Alicante line, and in 1858 the Madrid–Alicante railway was officially opened. La Encina's own station was built in 1863 (later rebuilt after a fire), and a railway village grew up around it that became the core of today's settlement.

Why is La Encina historically significant?

The Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles recognizes La Encina as one of only 14 "pure" railway villages (poblados ferroviarios) in Spain, and the sole example in the Valencian Community. The settlement still preserves its old station buildings, former railway schools, worker housing built by the MZA and Caminos del Norte railway companies, the so-called "64 houses" neighborhood, a water tank, and a swing bridge once used for the railway. This ensemble has documented architectural, historical, ethnological, and technological value, which has led to a process to protect it as a Bien de Relevancia Local (locally significant heritage asset).

How do you get to La Encina?

The easiest way is by train — La Encina has its own station on the Madrid–Alicante line, historically one of the more important junctions on that route. By car, the settlement sits along roads connecting Villena with the western part of the province, about 20 minutes from central Villena. It works well as a base for exploring both Villena's castle and the rural landscapes of Alto Vinalopó.

What can you see near the town hall?

A short walk from the town hall brings you to the former railway station and the neighboring worker housing blocks — the most distinctive part of La Encina. It's worth taking in the street layout, originally designed around the railway infrastructure, along with surviving technical features such as the water tank and the swing bridge. Together they form a rare regional example of a settlement built purely to serve a railway.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking around the settlement, since summers in this part of Alicante province can get very hot. A few hours are enough to see the site, and a visit pairs naturally with a trip to Villena.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does La Encina have its own independent town hall? No — La Encina is a pedanía of the municipality of Villena. The local administrative building serves residents on site, but it formally answers to Villena's authorities. In 1932, residents sought administrative independence, but the initiative did not succeed.

What makes La Encina stand out? Its status as one of Spain's 14 pure railway villages, and the only one in the Valencian Community, with 19th-century worker housing and railway infrastructure still intact.

What's the easiest way to reach La Encina? By train, directly to La Encina station, or by car from Villena in about 20 minutes.

How much time should I plan for a visit? A few hours are enough to see the historic railway settlement and the area around the town hall, ideally combined with a visit to Villena.