Benidorm is a town and municipality in the province of Alicante, Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The first settlements in the area are on Montbenidorm, a hill in Cala Finestrat, which can be seen at the end of Poniente beach. There are burial grounds here and the remains of an Iberian settlement dating back to the first century BC Archaeologists discovered fishing nets here, tying Benidorm to the sea even then.
Benidorm fishers became famous and sought after all over Spain and beyond by the 18th century. Fishing tuna was their top catch, and they perfected the ancient almadraba technique dating back to the Islamic era. Combined with improved agriculture, the fishing industry helped fuel a robust local economy. Coastal traffic increased, bringing more wealth to the region as the town became a base for sea captains and their vessels. Benidorm’s fishing industry declined in 1952, resulting in many new development plans aimed at tourists.
Benidorm began to attract tourists in the 1960s. During that time, the resort saw a massive boom in tourism which paved the way for the famous Benidorm skyline we all know and love today. The opening of the Alicante airport in 1967 and the rise of package holidays caused the number of visitors to Benidorm to increase rapidly, and hotels began to be built to accommodate them.
Here are some stunning vintage photos from the 1960s that will take you back to the old Benidorm.
