History
Benidorm was little more than a tiny village until the Moors (Arabian Muslims) arrived from the Iberian peninsular and North Africa in the 8th and 9th centuries. The Moors were dominant in Benidorm until King Jamie I conquered the area in 1245 and pushed the Moors out for good. Christians soon moved into the area and became the dominant population. The following years were very tough on the village as the whole area was subjected to attach after attack from pirates and the Turkish in particular. A fort was built in order to repel these regular raids, however, it was destroyed more than once and in the end the locals abandoned it and the population soon dwindled.
The construction of an irrigation system vastly improved the area’s prosperity in 1666. The town became a very popular producer of lemons, oranges and olive oil. Work began in the church of St Jaime in the 18th century and the town prospered with the newly found trade. It was in the early 18th century that a boat was found on the sand of Playa Poniente by some of the locals. People were wary of the plague at the time, so the town’s residents decided to set the ship alight. A statue of the Virgen del Sufragio was discovered in the burnt out remains of the ship and to the locals amazement, it was completely undamaged. The Virgen became a patron saint of the town and the event is still celebrated to this day.
Benidorm quickly became a huge fishing port with famous fisherman based there for many years. The catch of the time was tuna and the locals had perfected the art of ‘almadraba,’ a complicated maze of fishing nets placed to catch the tuna as they migrated across the Mediterranean. The local agriculture and fishing industry allowed the town to flourish during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The dawn of the 19th century saw the start of the tourist boom in Benidorm. A railway was built to the town which brought tourists from Alcoy and Madrid. A road also linked Benidorm with Alicante. World War Two and the Civil War temporarily halted the growth of the town, however, that was soon to change in the 1950s. The fishing industry was in decline and the town’s planners gave the go-ahead for development plans designed to make Benidorm the Spanish capital of tourism. Alicante Airport opened in 1967 and tourists from all over Europe made their way to Benidorm for their annual holidays.
The 1970s saw Benidorm become the biggest tourist resort In Europe. 12 million people visited Benidorm in 1977, which is still a European record!
Population
Benidorm is easily the largest tourist destination anywhere on the Mediterranean coast, with 4 million visitors every year. There is a tourist trade all year round with many elderly people staying in the resort for several weeks in the cold winter months. The exciting and vibrant nightlife attracts younger groups, families and couples. The autumn and winter months see a large influx of older couples from northern Europe. There are 70,000 permanent residents of Benidorm, of which a very high proportion are British.
Places to Visit
Benidorm enjoys fantastic weather all year round and one of the biggest attractions is the nightlife and entertainment found all over the area. However, Benidorm is much more than that and there are plenty of places to visit.
Parque de L’Aiguera – Used widely for concerts and festivals, the Parque de L’Aiguera consists of beautiful sea front promenades, lined with palm trees.
La Isla de Benidorm – This tiny, uninhabited island attracts swimmers and snorkelers to enjoy the clear, warm waters. The island can be reached by a regular glass bottomed boat service.
Castillo Mirador – Standing on the site of the former Benidorm Castle, this is now a picturesque square surrounding by fantastic coastal views and beaches.
Iglesia de San Jaime – The blue tiles used on the domes of St James’ church make it one of the most recognised symbols of Benidorm.
Aqualandia – This water park is a great day out for families and is located just outside the town centre. There are plenty of scary water slides and more sedate attractions for mum and dad. There are also a number of shops, bars and restaurants meaning there is something for everyone.
Terra Mitica – Designed along the lines of the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean, this is a huge theme park, packed full of white knuckle roller coasters and attractions for all the family. This is a great way to spend a day as the park also includes more gentle rides, restaurants, bars and shops.
Mundomar Marine Animal Park – Just a short distance from the centre of Benidorm, Mundomar is well known for its dolphins and is a great way to see some of the Mediterranean sea-life close up.
There are also a number of other local attractions including the Terra Natura Safari Park. Hundreds of animals are housed in the park including elephants and python snakes!
Cuisine
There is a truly international flavour to the cuisine in Benidorm with so many choices, no one will feel left out. The Calle De La Palma has a number of fine dining restaurants together with many more ‘run of the mill’ restaurants, including several places serving traditional ‘pub grub.’ There are also Spanish, Italian and French restaurants all within a short walk.
As will all Spanish resorts, Spanish cuisine is alive and well and amongst the healthiest in the world. The use of fresh local seafood, locally grown fresh vegetables and the liberal use of olive oil provide a nutritious and very tasty cuisine. There are also Irish, Indian and Chinese restaurants in the town, making Benidorm the Spanish town for international cuisine.
Accommodation
Benidorm sometimes suffers from an image problem with people making the assumption that the town only offers a cut-price holiday with no frills. The town isn’t just tower blocks and skyscrapers however; the old town offers a quaint and pretty alternative for accommodation – ideal if peace and quiet, away from the busy bars and parties is required. Whilst some people will revel in the party atmosphere of Benidorm, those looking for a more laid-back and quieter time should look no further than Playa Poniente.
Benidorm offers a huge selection of accommodation for absolutely every budget. While the tall tower block hotels offer the majority shelter, there are also a huge number of apartments and villas in the outlying areas of Benidorm. There are also a number of campsites for those on a budget holiday. The five star Hotel Don Pancho, surrounded by beautiful waterfalls, offers holiday-goers some real luxury.
Weather
The weather in Benidorm is pleasant all year round. The Sierra Helada Mountains protect the town from the cool winds and rainfall is sporadic, consisting of mostly showers. The light breezes from the ocean provide a little relief from the heat of the summer months.
Summers in Benidorm are very hot with very little rain. With an average temperature of around 30C, temperatures go well beyond this at times and reach the high 30s regularly. Blue, cloudless skies are the norm with humidity peaking in the summer months. The mild winter temperatures in Benidorm bring in many visitors during the off-season. It is rare that temperatures drop below 12C and there are usually still cloudless blue skies. Rainfall is highest in January during the winter, although any rainfall is usually only in the form of showers and blue skies follow closely behind. Visitors can expect around 5 hours of sunshine per day in the town.
Transport
The best way to get around Benidorm is by taxi. If a holiday doesn’t include a bus transfer, there are plenty of taxis waiting at the airport and like most Spanish taxis, they are very competitively priced. There are a number of buses but the affordability of a cab in Benidorm, particularly for groups and families, mean the flexibility and convenience of grabbing a taxi make for a less stressful holiday. There are a number of car hire companies for those that want to venture further afield, all at very affordable prices.
