Benidorm

BENIDORM FACTFILE

LOCATION:- Benidorm is located on the Northern Costa Blanca, Spain and can be accessed via the AP-7 motorway, the CV 70 or the N332 coast road between Villajoyosa and Calpe. It is easily reached from Alicante (El Altet) airport.

OVERVIEW:- The biggest tourist destination on the Mediterranean coastline with over 4 million visitors every year, Benidorm is truly an all year round resort. With its many tourist attractions and facilities it is hugely popular with families especially during the summer months. Benidorm's vibrant and exciting nightlife attracts young couples and singles (predominantly during the summer months) and its mild winter climate and huge selection of top quality hotels attracts the older generation from all over Northern Europe during the quieter winter months. Benidorm is also a popular destination for the Christmas holiday period with many hotels offering some fantastic entertainment.

CLIMATE:- Benidorm boasts a fabulous climate, with a mean annual temperature of approximately 20° C and over 300 days of sunshine every year. Temperatures rarely fall below 5° Centigrade in the winter months and can reach a scorching 40° C during the summer PHEW!

HISTORY:- Originally settled by the Moors, Benidorm was just a small fishing village up until the 1950's when it became a popular tourist destination. Rapid growth during the 1960's fuelled the tourist invasion and Benidorm was quick to provide the ideal environment for the holidaymaker. The early history of Benidorm abounds in stories of Arab invaders, pirate attacks and Christian re-conquests (for the full history of Benidorm read the article at the bottom of the page).

PLACES TO VISIT:- There is a huge choice of places to visit in and around Benidorm, here are just a few of them. Parque de L'Aigúera - Famous for its palm lined promenades, beautiful fountains and 2 fine ampitheatres, extensively used for concerts and outdoor events. La Isla de Benidorm - Small and uninhabited Benidorm Island is a great location for swimming and snorkeling. Reached by a short boat trip (try to take the glass bottomed boat for a more interesting experience). Castillo Mirador - Site of the former castle of Benidorm, now a charming square with fine views of the surrounding coastline and beaches. Iglesia de San Jaime - Built in 1740, the blue tiled domes of St James church are one of the best known landmarks in Benidorm. Aqualandia Water Park - Located within easy reach of Benidorm town centre, Aqualandia is a great place to visit for both kids and adults alike, a fantastic selection of watery activities for all ages with slides,waterfalls and pools. There are also lots of other facilities including shops, bars, restaurants and picnic areas ( Aqualandia Map ).Terra Mitica - A theme park to end all theme parks with some of the scariest rides in Europe, Terra Mitica is sure to get the pulse racing. Again within easy reach of Benidorm town centre Terra Mitica is based around the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranaean region (Greek, Roman and Egyptian) ( Terra Mitica Map ). Mundomar Marine Animal Park - Also within easy reach of Benidorm town centre, Mundomar is especially famous for its dolphinarium, it has lots of other attractions though, and it is extremely popular with the kids ( Mundomar Map ).

CABARETS AND SHOWS:- Here are just some of the most popular locations to catch a show, cabaret or just great entertainment. Benidorm Palace - Magnificent nightclub where you can eat in style and be entertained by some of the best cabaret acts in Europe. Ritch Bitch Showbar - Popular showbar located in Benidorm old town famous for its adult comedy shows. Valentines - Located on the Eastside and featuring tribute bands, comedy acts and late night adult shows. Molino - Located on Avenida Beniarda 2, Molino is well known for its "Comedy Musical" style shows from its own resident company. Carriages - Located in the Levante area of Benidorm on Calle Gerona, Carriages is well known for its tribute bands. The Talk of the Coast - Also on the Eastside of Benidorm in the Levante area The Talk of the Coast presents some more off-beat and quirky cabaret acts - if you want something a little different the The Talk of the Coast could be the place for you. The Town - Popular Cabaret and Disco bar also located in the busy Levante area of Benidorm. Zodiac - Comedy is the order of the day at the ever popular Zodiac, again located in the Levante area. Stardust - Another predominantly comedy style club, the Stardust is huge with 3 bars and lots of entertainment on offer. Steptoe's II - Cabaret bar on Avenida de America, Benidorm. This is just a taste of the Benidorm nightlife available.

BEACHES:- The two main beaches of Benidorm are Playa de Levante (Sunrise Beach) and Playa de Poinente (Sunset Beach), both are very busy all year round (but particularly so during the summer months), but they are both kept exceptionally clean and tidy. Other beaches include La Cala and Mal Pas.

BENIDORM ARTICLE

Benidorm - From Fishing Village to Holidaymakers Paradise

Modern day Benidorm is now the biggest tourist resort in Europe, with in excess of four million visitors each year, it outstrips all other coastal destinations. Benidorm's 5 km of clean sandy beaches are lined with towering hotels and apartment blocks which pay testimony to its growth and economic success.

Most people who have visited Benidorm would find it hard to believe that it was just a small fishing village as recently as the 1950's, many forget that tourism is a modern industry and that Benidorm's rise has been rapid and spectacular.

Although there is evidence of settlements in the Benidorm area as far back as 3,000 BC, remains of a Roman villa and fragments of Punic and Roman ships in the Bay of Benidorm, the first real settlement was built by the Moors during the Arab Conquest (8th to 13th Centuries) and Benidorm developed as a fishing community from this time onwards.

The whole region was re-conquered by the Christian king Jaime I in 1245 and the town's first charter was issued in 1325. The original castle of Benidorm, of which no evidence now remains, was built at around this time in a high and prominent position (in the area where the old village now lies), to protect Benidorm from pirate attacks of which there were many. Two terrible attacks occurred in 1410 and 1448 and Benidorm became somewhat depopulated after this.

Some improvement in the area occurred in 1666 when an irrigation drain was built to supply water to the surrounding land and by 1715 the population had grown to 216. In 1740 construction began on the Parish Church of San Jaime (Saint James) and by 1794 the population of the locality had reached 2,700 (a significant rise for the times).

Benidorm fishermen earned a huge reputation as expert tuna fisherman and the ecomomy of the town grew around this industry and to a lesser extent around agriculture. By 1857 the population of Benidorm numbered 3,720 although it fell back to 2,976 in 1920 after an outbreak of phylloxera (1900 - 1914) destroyed a thriving grape growing industry.

At around this time the beginnings of a tourist industry appeared in Benidorm, fuelled by the building of a narrow guage railway built in 1914, bringing a small number of tourists from inland towns such as Alcoy and Madrid.

In 1952 there was a big drop in fish catches and Benidorm's fishing industry went into decline. In 1956 the town council approved a plan of improvements geared towards the tourist industry and new building in the town was planned with leisure and tourism in mind - this decision proved to be spot on and in 10 years the population increased from 2,726 in 1950 to 6,259 in 1960. Growth was accelerated in 1967 by the opening of the airport at El Altet (Alicante) and a huge construction program began to cater for the increased influx of tourists. The population of Benidorm grew with the tower blocks in 1970 - 12,003, in 1981 - 21,544 and in 1997 - 50,176.

Benidorm's rise has been dramatic and it has become a fantastically successful resort catering for people of all ages and nationalities. Crowded all year round and with an awe inspiring range of facilities and entertainment, Benidorm has something for everybody. Busy particularly in the summer with families and the young and extremely popular during the winter months, with the elderly (escaping the colder climates of the UK and other North European countries).

Love it or despise it, Benidorm certainly delivers everything asked of it and you will be hard pressed to find a resort with more to offer. So this is Benidorm, fishing village done good!

Benidorm is on the Northern Costa Blanca, Spain between Alicante and Valencia and can be accessed via the N332, AP-7 motorway and the CV70. Map of Benidorm - Hotels - Flamingo Hotel Benidorm - Benidorm Hotel

Related Pages:- Villajoyosa - Alicante - Guadalest - Denia - Gallinera Valley - Moraira - Calpe - Terra Natura - Javea - Albir - Callosa D'En Sarria - Pedreguer - Alfaz del Pi - Finestrat

Do you have property in Benidorm that you need to sell or rent? Advertise on this page from as little as 20 euros. Click here for more details - Advertise Benidorm Property Direct

For more on Benidorm check out this site - Benidorm Spotlight

Costa Blanca Resorts - Benidorm