VILLENA  , a

town of eastern Spain, in the province of Alicante; on the right bank of the river Vinalapo, and at the junction of railways from Valencia, Alicante, Albacete and Yecla . Pop . (1900) 14,099 . Villena is a labyrinth of winding alleys, which contain some interesting examples of Moorish domestic architecture . It is dominated by a large and picturesque Moorish castle . The surrounding hills are covered with vines, and to the east there is an extensive salt lagoon . Silk, linen, flour, wine, brandy, oil, salt and soap are the chief industrial products .