Money, Money, Money, Alcoi — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

This spot on Avenida País Valencià in Alcoi connects to a piece of the city's financial history. The Bank of Spain opened its first branch in Alcoi in 1884, driven by the special development of local industry. Alcoi's factories needed a proper bank to pay workers' wages, and the central bank responded by setting up shop here. The old Bank of Spain building is a handsome historicist structure in neoclassical style, with large columns and decorated pediments that give it the kind of authority you'd expect from a bank. It operated for nearly a century before the branch was closed in 1982, at which point the Central Bank donated the building to the Town Hall for cultural use. Avenida País Valencià itself is a stroll through Alcoi's architectural evolution. The street features notable buildings, including an Art Nouveau gem at number 30, designed by master builder Jorge Vilaplana Carbonell in 1911. Alcoi's industrial wealth, which brought the bank here in the first place, left a visible mark on the town. The buildings along this avenue tell the story of a town that punched well above its weight during Spain's Industrial Revolution. If you're following a Questo quest through Alcoi, this area might challenge you to look at these buildings through fresh eyes.