4 things you may not know about Benidorm

Chris Butler May 29th, 2019 8,656 views

Benidorm holidays have always divided opinion, but whether you love the place or not, the Spanish destination has more to it than the negative stereotypes suggest. Here are 4 things you may not know about the Costa Blanca resort.

It was the first place in Spain to make bikinis legal

By the 1950s, the bikini was a staple of women's beach attire across Europe. In Spain however, during the years under General Franco, the bikini was seen as a symbol threatening traditional Catholic values and was banned. That was until the mayor of Benidorm at the time, Pedro Zaragoza, convinced Franco that welcoming the bikini was an opportunity to attract wealthy tourists to the country. Franco saw the opportunity, and uplifted the ban, leading to the foundations for the Spain of today, one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in the world.

Most skyscrapers per capita in the world

When you think of skyscraper-dominated landscapes, you may think New York or Tokyo, but it's actually Benidorm - a city with a population of 74,000 - that has the most per capita anywhere in the world. It's a particularly staggering statistic when you consider that up until the 1950s the town was a relatively small fishing village with a very little in the way of infrastructural development altogether.

It's a great place for your health

Due to the region's clean air and low rainfall, The World Health Organisation declared Costa Blanca one of the healthiest places to live in the world; the benefits of the area are especially good for people who suffer from asthma and arthritis. Just make sure you don't drink too much booze when you're there, it would kind of defeat the purpose of a detoxifying holiday.

Its got a theme park

Just outside Benidorm city centre, you'll find Terra Mitica Theme Park, one of the biggest parks in the Costa Blanca region. Split into 7 sections, each representing different civilisations of the ancient world - including Greece and Rome - the park is a delight for the senses and an adrenaline junkie's dream. The park caters to everyone; 15 of park's main rides have been replicated into children versions!