Spain, Benidorm

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 town in the 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.

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.