Benidorm
Benidorm | ||
---|---|---|
Municipality | ||
From left to right, top to bottom: View of the city from the east, Levante and Poniente beaches, Gran Hotel Bali, Intempo, and Neguri Gane buildings. | ||
Postal code 03501–03503 | ||
Official language(s) | Spanish, Valencian | |
Website | www.benidorm.org |
Benidorm (English:
Benidorm has been a tourist destination within Spain since 1925, when its port was extended and the first hotels were built, though it would not be until the 1950s that it became renowned as a summer destination for people coming from inland Spain, especially Madrid. Today it is known for its hotel industry, beaches, and skyscrapers and receives as many tourists from abroad as from Spain. According to the 2020 census, Benidorm has a permanent population of 70,450 inhabitants, making it the fifth-most populous town in the Alicante province and the ninth in Valencian Community.[3]
History
It is thought there were settlements in the Benidorm area possibly as far back as 3000 BC, including evidence of
Benidorm's history for the next few centuries was plagued by attacks from the sea by
In 1952 Benidorm's fishing industry went into decline; this was a factor in encouraging the town council to approve many new development plans aimed at the tourist market.[citation needed]
Local politics
After giving the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party majorities or pluralities in elections from the restoration of democracy in 1977, Benidorm has favoured the right wing People's Party (PP) since the general elections of 1993.[5] The PP gained control of the local council at the 1995 local elections and won 14 of the 25 council seats in the 1999 and 2003 elections. The 2007 election gave them a one-seat majority over the PSOE,[6] but disagreements in the PP group led to a motion of censure being passed against the PP mayor in September 2009. He was replaced by the socialist Agustín Navarro.[7] In 2019, PP won the local elections, obtaining an absolute majority.
As of the 2019 local elections, the political composition on the local council was the following:[8]
Party[8] | Seats | |
---|---|---|
PP | 13 | |
PSOE | 10 | |
Cs | 2 |
In the 2023 election held on 28 May the results were:[9]
Party[8] | Seats | |
---|---|---|
PP | 16 | |
PSOE | 8 | |
Vox | 1 |
Geography
The town is divided into five parts: Poniente (Ponent or 'sun setting') and Levante (Llevant or 'sun rising'), each fronted by a beach of the same name; the old town (also called El Castell); La Cala situated to the west side of Poniente; and El Rincón de Loix (or El Racó de l'Oix) situated to the east side of Levante. Between the two beaches lies a rocky promontory and the port.
The old city occupies the promontory and the area immediately inland, while most of the hotels occupy the more recently developed sections inland from the two beaches. A few miles from shore is an uninhabited island known as
In 1954 Pedro Zaragoza Orts, the then young Mayor of Benidorm, created the Plan General de Ordenación (city building plan) that ensured, via a complex construction formula, every building would have an area of leisure land, guaranteeing a future free of the excesses of cramped construction seen in other areas of Spain. It is the only city in Spain that still adheres to this rigid rule. Most of the streets in the city are named after places such as Avenida de Uruguay, Avenida del Mediterráneo, Calle Pekín, etc. Avenida del Mediterráneo is a wide avenue that crosses Levante and links the old town with Rincón. Avenida Europa crosses Levante at right angles linking the western city limits with the Levante beach.
Benidorm is connected to the
Climate
Benidorm has a
Climate data for Benidorm | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average sea temperature °C (°F) | 14.4 (58.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
16.3 (61.4) |
18.9 (66.1) |
22.5 (72.4) |
25.1 (77.1) |
26.1 (79.0) |
24.9 (76.8) |
22.4 (72.3) |
19.3 (66.8) |
16.4 (61.5) |
19.6 (67.2) |
Mean daily daylight hours | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 12.3 |
Average Ultraviolet index | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5.6 |
Source: Weather Atlas[14] |
Climate data for Benidorm | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.1 (66.4) |
20.9 (69.6) |
23.4 (74.1) |
26.9 (80.4) |
29.5 (85.1) |
29.6 (85.3) |
26.9 (80.4) |
23.4 (74.1) |
19.6 (67.3) |
17.3 (63.1) |
22.5 (72.6) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
18.8 (65.8) |
22.3 (72.1) |
24.9 (76.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
22.7 (72.9) |
19.3 (66.7) |
15.7 (60.3) |
13.3 (55.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
10.0 (50.0) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.7 (69.3) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.2 (59.4) |
11.7 (53.1) |
9.3 (48.7) |
13.8 (56.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 29.9 (1.18) |
30.5 (1.20) |
23.8 (0.94) |
30.8 (1.21) |
36.0 (1.42) |
12.2 (0.48) |
4.2 (0.17) |
8.7 (0.34) |
48.8 (1.92) |
56.2 (2.21) |
46.5 (1.83) |
29.5 (1.16) |
357.1 (14.06) |
Source: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)[15] |
Tourism
Benidorm is popular with tourists from the UK, Ireland, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands. Benidorm's initial growth in popularity can be attributed to the
The author and
In the 1980s Benidorm developed a reputation for British drunken lager louts and violent binge drinking. This did not happen all year round but mainly in the summer months of July and August.[18]
The town is now very popular with families. Also, many elderly people from northern Europe pass the winter there. This made 'Benidorm' into something of a synonym for elderly people in those countries, as can be seen in the Flemish
Benidorm has three major beaches: Playa de Levante (
Events and attractions
Each summer, since 1959 to 2000, the city celebrated the Benidorm International Song Festival, a song contest where international or Spanish celebrities such as Julio Iglesias, Raphael or the Dúo Dinámico became famous. Loosely based on the song festival, RTVE signed, in 2021, a four-year contract with the city of Benidorm to hold the preselection to determine the Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, naming the event Benidorm Fest.[20]
Since 2010, in July, Benidorm celebrates an
In 2011, Benidorm hosted the start of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's three grand tours.
Benidorm is home to annual open water swimming competition of Oceanman series.[22]
Benidorm boasts three family-oriented theme parks: Terra Mítica is inland from the city, at the foot of the mountain, and Aqualandia and Mundomar are located on the outskirts of the city on the Levante side. Benidorm offers activities for all ages. With all the family attractions available, Benidorm has been described as one of the most family-oriented holiday destinations in Spain and Europe. In addition to large shopping and commercial areas. An episode of the hit British sitcom Only Fools and Horses was set in Benidorm. The episode was called "It Never Rains...".
A TV series called
-
Early morning exercise (organised by the local council).
-
Late morning community singing, in Spanish (organised by the local council).
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Exercise equipment.
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Benidorm Island viewed from a beach of the city.
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Poniente beach in Benidorm when the sun sets.
-
San Jaume church
Demographics
Nationality
Benidorm is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Europe with a high immigrant population. The population in 2010 was 71,198. These figures are for those registered as formal residents and not long-term visitors.[24]
Country | Spain | UK | Romania | Ecuador | Argentina | Colombia | Morocco | Bulgaria | Mainland China | Pakistan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 46,346 | 5,235 | 2,828 | 1,367 | 1,316 | 1,178 | 1,136 | 1,066 | 820 | 779 |
Percentage | 65.2% | 7.4% | 4.0% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
Population growth
Year | 1857 | 1887 | 1910 | 1930 | 1950 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2005 | 2010 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 3,720 | 3,183 | 3,498 | 3,113 | 25,544 | 42,442 | 50,044 | 51,873 | 67,492 | 71,198 | 70,450 |
Education
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2015) |
The École française Pablo Picasso, an annex of the Lycée Français d'Alicante, a French international school, is located in Benidorm.[25]
Sport
Benidorm hosted 1992 UCI Road cycling World Championships.
The town hosted the 2008 Beach Soccer World Cup European qualification stages and the 2008 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Final
The local football team was for 47 years Benidorm CF who played at the Guillermo Amor Municipal Stadium, until they folded in June 2011. Currently only amateur club Atlético Benidorm exists.
See also
Notes
References
- ^ (in Spanish)Toni Pérez devuelve al PP la alcaldía de Benidorm, aunque en minoría, El Mundo, 13 June 2015
- ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- ^ Burdett, Ricky & Sudjic, Deyan. The Endless City. Phaidon Press Ltd. 1 March 2008.
- ^ Carta de Poblament de Benidorm (Benidorm Population Letter). R. Alemany, A. Couto, J. Hinojosa and M. Cabanes. 1987. Benidorm City Council
- ^ election results in Benidorm
- ^ 2007 local election[permanent dead link]
- ^ Las Provincias 22 September 2009
- ^ a b c "Resultados Electorales en Benidorm: Elecciones Municipales 2015".
- ^ "PP expands its absolute majority and reaches its historical maximum: 16 councilors". benidorm.org. Benidorm Council. 28 May 2023.
- Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- AEMET. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Qué es una noche tropical". 2 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ Marzal, M. (19 August 2023). "La humedad es la culpable del 'bochornoso' verano que vive la Comunitat Valenciana". Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Benidorm, Spain – Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "World Weather Information Service. Benidorm". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ Tremlett, Giles (2006). Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country's Hidden Past. Faber and Faber.
- Sunday Times, 6 May 1990
- ^ Clerks Travels 3rd ed 2007
- ^ De Standaard Online – De Zweedse 'sexy bitch' en andere Benidorm Bastards (in Dutch)
- ^ "Spain: Benidorm Fest signed for four years, it may not include a voting sequence". wiwibloggs. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Rockandrollarmy, Redacción (9 November 2021). "Primavera Weekender 2021 hace balance". www.rockandrollarmy.com/magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Open water races and challenges in Spain".
- ^ "¿De qué va 'Benidorm'? Descubre la trama de la nueva comedia de Antonio Pagudo y María Almudéver". Atresplayer Premium (in Spanish). 11 June 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Instituto Nacional de Estadística Archived 12 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine,
- AEFE. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
External links
- Media related to Benidorm at Wikimedia Commons
- Benidorm travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Benidorm City Council