Benidorm

Benidorm Skyline

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 km² and a population density of 1,593.56 inhab/km².

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.

Demographic evolution of between 1991 and 2005
1991 1996 2001 2004 2005
42.442 50.040 51.873 64.956 67.492

**Demographic evolution of between 1991 and 2005**
1991	1996	2001	2004	2005
42.442	50.040	51.873	64.956	67.492

External links

General

[Benidom News], oficial information, actuality; in English, French and Spanish.
[Benidorm Spotlight], the best quality information provider on Benidorm; in English and Spanish
[Benidorm], interesting information about Benidorm, the bars, nightlife and beaches; in English
[Real Benidorm Holiday Guide], selection of up to date images, general info; in English.
[Benidorm travel guide], overview on restaurants, sightseeing, nightlife and travel info; in English.
[Town Hall of Benidorm], general info; in Spanish.
[Gran Hotel Bali], the tallest building in Spain so far; in English, Spanish and Icelandic.
[Benidorm Impressions], city overview with video on sightseeing attractions; in English.
[Benidorm International Song Festival], international song contest; in English and Spanish.

[Benidorm Night and Day], magazine, general info; in Spanish/English.
[Resort Hoppa], daily shuttle services from Alicante and Murcia airports to Benidorm resort as well as taxis too.

Theme parks

[Terra Mítica], theme park of Benidorm; in English, Spanish and Valencian.
[Terra Natura], theme park of Benidorm; in English, Spanish and Valencian.
[Aqualandia], the largest aqua theme park in Europe; in English and Spanish.
[Mundomar], a marine and exotic animal park; in English and Spanish.

[http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit ]	Municipalities of Marina Baixa
L'Alfàs del Pi \| Altea \| Beniardà \| Benidorm \| Benifato \| Benimantell \| Bolulla \| Callosa d'En Sarrià \| Confrides \| Finestrat \| El Castell de Guadalest \| La Nucia \| Orxeta \| Polop \| Relleu \| Sella \| Tàrbena \| La Vila Joiosa

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.