| Benidorm has existed since 1325 when it gained it´s | | | | the terraces and derelict fincas that have lay unused |
| town charter from Admiral Bernat De Serria at Polop | | | | since the turn of the century many of which still |
| castle which was then part of the kingdom of | | | | have now ancient olive trees on them. It was the |
| Valencia. The giving of town charters was carried out | | | | sea and agriculture that would maintain the town until |
| until the 17th century as a way of removing the | | | | the 19th century when the road to Alicante was built. |
| Moors and allowing Christians to inhabit the area. | | | | Once road access opened from Alicante and the |
| The first settlements in the area can be found at | | | | national railway joined Alicante to Madrid and other |
| Montbenidorm a hill that you can see at the far end | | | | parts of Spain the first tourists begun to arrive in |
| of the Poniente beach. Here there are burial grounds | | | | Benidorm. It was also at this time that Spain lost |
| and remains of an Iberian settlement that dates back | | | | many of the colonies in South America so the much |
| to the first century B.C. Archaeologists discovered | | | | needed income form deep sea fishing began to |
| remains of fishing nets here firmly tying Benidorm to | | | | decline. In the 1950´s the Almadraba netting which |
| the sea even then. A figure of Tanith who is a | | | | had earned an income for many local families was |
| Phoenician goddess of fertility and the heavens was | | | | closed in the Raco De L'Oix now known as the |
| also unearthed here as were remains of Roman | | | | Rincon in the center of the tourist area of Benidorm. |
| settlements nearby. | | | | At this time the town mayor approved plans to build |
| It is the long history of fishing which created the | | | | the now famous avenues along the Levante which |
| myth that Benidorm was a small charming fishing | | | | would welcome at first Spanish tourists and later |
| village when in fact it never was. The fishermen of | | | | those from Holland, Germany and Britain. The first |
| Benidorm were actually deep sea fishermen who | | | | package holidays arrived in Benidorm for as little as 21 |
| spent many months in the Atlantic, South America | | | | euro for a week half board in the four star Delfin |
| and north of Spain. They were famous all over Spain | | | | Hotel including air travel to Valencia airport which |
| for their skills with trap netting and were much | | | | opened in 1933. In those early years the coach trip |
| sought after in the 18th century. They had for many | | | | from Valencia took four and a half hours. Late |
| years used Almadraba netting an ancient Arabic | | | | evening arrivals when hotel kitchens were closed |
| tradition to catch Tuna by placing a maze of deep | | | | necessitated a stop at a road side Tapas bar where |
| sea netting to progressively smaller inshore pools. A | | | | a bottle of wine would only cost 9 pesetas. |
| tradition which continued until the 1950´s at the | | | | Alicante airport did not open until April 1967, once |
| Rincon De Loix to catch Tuna as they migrated | | | | opened this was the biggest contributing factor to |
| across the Mediterranean. | | | | Benidorm´s success as a holiday resort, together |
| Benidorm grew around the rocky outcrop now know | | | | with the introduction of modern jet airliners. These |
| as El Castillo (in the old town) but it´s beginnings | | | | made flying more cost effective and for the first |
| were hampered by raids from pirates during the 15th | | | | time enabled the ordinary family to enjoy a basic |
| century and the town was almost destroyed as | | | | holiday abroad seeing thebeginnings of the end for |
| inhabitants fled. In the 16th and 17th centuries the | | | | many seaside towns in Britain and europe. Passenger |
| town was strengthened by the castle being rebuilt | | | | numbers reached 8.9 million in 2005 and a new |
| and made larger ( it is sad but today nothing remains | | | | terminal is due to open in 2009 to cope with the |
| of the castle). In 1665 the town really began to grow | | | | increased air traffic of which 80% arrives from |
| as water frominland was bought to the town along | | | | foreign destinations. |
| channels. This was the single biggest cause of the | | | | Benidorm was the model that all early holiday resorts |
| population increasing at this time. | | | | were based on. The success culminated in 1977 when |
| With water came agriculture and olive groves sprung | | | | Benidorm entertained 12 million visitors a figure that |
| up all over Benidorm with every spare meter of land | | | | has never been bettered.Today Benidorm contributes |
| being used to cultivate this valuable commodity as | | | | 12% of Spain's gross national product which means |
| well as Orange and Lemon groves. If you go to Raco | | | | that the towns revenue is a massive 16,853,000 euro |
| Conil a preserved area on the road to Villa Joyosa | | | | every day of the year. That is an incredible 702,802* |
| were you take a left at the casino you can still see | | | | euro per hour. |