How to visit and what to see at Museo Chocolate Valor (Villajoyosa): schedules

One of the curiosities of Villajoyosa is the abundance of chocolate and nougat factories.

In fact, there are times when, walking through the streets, you smell a light sweet smell that gives a very peculiar atmosphere to this Alicante town.

Currently, in Villajoyosa there are four chocolate factories, reflecting a history of more than two centuries, and although it may seem like many, at some point there were some more.

Tradition of chocolate factories in Villajoyosa: curiosities

One of the reasons for this abundance is to be found in the port, through which raw materials could easily arrive.

By land, a good distribution of the manufactured products could also be made.

Now it can be said that the chocolate is one of signs of identity and one of the tourist attractions of Villajoyosaa whirlpool bath, true gastronomic experience in the Alicante town.

Valencian Chocolate Museum, tourist attraction in Villajoyosa

Of the four factories that currently exist (Marcos Tonda, Pérez, Clavileño y Price), the best known is the latter, which is also in charge of Valencian Chocolate Museum of Villajoyosa.

Without a doubt, this museum is the specific tourist place that receives the most visits and is the perfect complement to the beaches, the showy colored houses and restaurants to make one getaway to Villajoyosa a very attractive experience.

El Chocolate Museum was created by Price in 1998 in the building that the small family factory originally occupied.

In 2008 he was recognized by the Valencian generalitat , the Valencian Chocolate Museum, and a few years ago he received the CICOP award to the conservation of industrial heritage.

The museum is located next to the current factory, which indicates that this company has never changed its location, it has only increased its facilities on adjacent plots.

This means that many times, throughout the visit, we can reach the aroma of roasting cocoa beans.

According to they told us during our visit, this part of the chocolate manufacturing process It is one of the differentiating characteristics of this company since very few do it around the world.

What is the experience of visiting the Valor Chocolate Museum like? What to see

The visit is made in guided groups, has a duration of about an hour, and is composed of three parts.

The first thing you see is a Visual Media in which the Chocolate's story and the company Price., and you will also have a sensory experience with different aspects of cocoa.

The second is the museum visit Strictly speaking, where you see the evolution of the chocolate factory over time.

Finally a small factory tour and it ends in the store.

The first part, in which different aspects of cocoa as the main ingredient in chocolate are explored. It is the last expansion carried out in this museum.

Origin and cultivation of cocoa

In the first room the origin and cultivation of cocoa, as well as the mythology that has always surrounded it.

It should be noted that the scientific name of the cocoa tree es Theobroma cacao.

Theobroma It means nothing less than “food of the gods”, which recognizes the importance given to it by the American cultures that consumed it in pre-Columbian America and, incidentally, the interest it arouses in current societies.

In this room we see a reproduction of some cocoa trees and some representations of Mesoamerican cultures.

Sensory experience with chocolate

There are also some containers with different cocoa ingredients and some spices that make us live a sensory experience related to chocolate.

Then you go to the room where you can see a Visual Media that reflects the journey of cocoa through history and some details of the company Price, including some of its most popular ads.

Chocolate Museum, evolution and manufacturing

We then move on to the museum itself, which is a tour of the evolution in the chocolate making processes, especially in the tools and machinery used.

It also follows the history of the five generations of this family that have created the most important chocolate company in Spain.

Thus we see that everything began in 1881 when Valeriano López, which was known as Price, began making chocolate to fulfill orders from neighbors and clients in the region.

Little by little the company expanded, and today its long history makes it one of the oldest operating chocolate factories in the world.

The museum displays one of the best collections of chocolate industry machinery over time, from the time when cocoa was ground by hand with stone instruments, as in pre-Columbian America, to the present.

So we see How the chocolate manufacturing process has evolved.

The appearance of the company's offices from decades ago is also reproduced. It is curious to see the changes in the image of the brand and the packaging.

Visit of the Valor Chocolates factory

Experience ends with the factory visit.

Since food products are handled here, the visit is done through glass and you can only see a certain part of the entire process.

There is something hypnotic about seeing all the movement of products, the machinery working and the employees doing their work.

During this part of the visit you cannot take photographs.

Shop with chocolate tasting

This is the moment most anticipated by many, especially children.

In the end it comes to the store where you can try some chocolates.

It is impressive to see the enormous number of different products made here, and it is difficult to leave the store without being tempted to take something home.

Guided tour times for the Valor Chocolate Museum in Villajoyosa

Los Guided tour schedules in Spanish They are at 11, 12 and 13 p.m. in the morning, and at 17, 18 and 19 p.m. in the afternoon.

On Saturdays there is only a visit in the morning, and on Sundays and holidays the museum and factory are closed.

En August The frequency of visits increases to every half hour, between 11 a.m. and 13 p.m., and between 17 and 20 p.m.

La Visit of the Valor Chocolate Museum is free and have one duration of about 45 minutes, being accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The capacity for each visit is 50 people, and you can buy tickets directly at the factory or you can make the online ticket reservation in advance of your visit.

In high season like Easter, August or during the bridges, advance reservation is essential to ensure a place for the visit.

Where is and how to get to the Villajoyosa Chocolate Museum

El Valencian Chocolate Museum of Villajoyosa is in the Avenida Pianista Gonzalo Soriano, 13.

Just 400 meters from the Creueta station The train that connects Alicante and Benidorm can be easily accessed from these two towns.