Benidorm
Town|name=Benidorm|name_local=|country=Spain|image_coat_of_arms=Escut de Benidorm.svg|50px|region_type=Land of|region_type_local=Comunidad|region_name=Valencia|region_link=Land of Valencia|region_name_local=|population=67,492|population_as_of=2004|area=38.51|founded=1325 BC|founded_type=|elevation=15|lat_deg=38|lat_min=32|lat_hem=N|lon_deg=0|lon_min=07|lon_hem=W|website=
www.benidorm.org|image_location=Benidorm uitzicht vanaf het kruis.jpg}}
Benidorm is a
Valencian coastal town and
municipality located in the
comarca of
Marina Baixa, in the province of
Alicante,
Spain, by the
Mediterranean Sea. According to the 2004 census, Benidorm has a permanent population of 64,956 inhabitants, ranking as the fifth most populous city in Alicante province, although the population exceeds half a million in the summer, since it is one of the most important
holiday resorts in Spain. It has an area of 38.5 km
2 and a
population density of 1,593.56 inhab/km
2.
Until the tourist industry began in the
1960s, Benidorm was a small fishing village. Today it stands out for its hotel industry, beaches and skyscrapers, which were built as a result of its tourist-oriented economy. Benidorm has three major beaches:
Levante,
Poniente and
Mal Pas; all of them have a
blue flag, the maximum quality standard recognised by the
European Union. The tallest building in Spain, the
Gran Hotel Bali is a
4-star hotel standing 186 meters high, is located in this city. With 310 buildings exceeding 35 meters high, it is often claimed that after
New York Benidorm has the most
skyscrapers in the
world.
Each summer, since 1959, the city celebrates the
Benidorm International Song Festival, a song contest where international or Spanish
celebrities like
Julio Iglesias,
Raphael or
El Dúo Dinámico became famous.Benidorm also has several
theme parks, for instance
Terra Mítica and Terra Natura which are located just outside Benidorm, at the foot of the mountain. Other Theme Parks include Aqualandia and Mundomar located on the outskirts of the city on the Levante side.
