Address : Plaza SS.MM Reyes de España, s/n

Post code : 03500

Telephone : 965.85.55.00

Fax : 965.85.59.39/5866811

WEB: www.benidorm.org

Email: benidorm@gva.es

Benidorm´s beaches and range of leisure amenities explain why has it has become Costa Blanca´s main tourist area. Benidorm has some of the best beaches in the world. The fine sand, cleaned daily, the quality of the services and the transparency of the water are the main reasons given by Benidorm´s many visitors. The Playa de Levante, where most bathers gather, is located 2 kilometres from the old town centre, the Sierra Gelada and the Ricón de Loix. In the middle of the summer the colourful concentration of human bodies is quite impressive. The Playa de Poniente is located on the edges of the old town centre, near the Finestrat cove. The Playa de Poniente resembles the Playa de Levante, though it is more peaceful. There is a small cove between the Playa de Poniente and the old town centre, known as the Playa del Mal Pas, which can be reached from the port or from stairs that descend from the castle. The historical centre is located around the Canfali vantage point, which is the most emblematic image of Benidorm with a white stone balcony and a vantage point. The neoclassical church dedicated to St James the Apostle is also located in this area. The Levante beach can be reached from the Plaza del Castillo either by walking down through the narrow white streets, or through the town´s commercial district. Benidorm´s impressive commercial centre is located around the Plaza Triangular, the calle Martínez Alejos, Gambo, Dr. Perez Llorca and the wide avenida del Mediterráneo. There is an interesting walk that starts from the Ayuntamiento and then runs parallel to the Playa de Levante along Avenida de Alcoy and Avenida Madrid. This area is one of Benidorm´s most animated night spots. The Aiguera Park, designed by Ricardo Bofill, is Benidorm´s largest park and divides the town in two. Benidorm´s attraction lies in the variety of its leisure amenities, with a wide range of activities for foreign and national tourists, children, teenagers and pensioners. All tastes and activities are catered for: gastronomy, music, culture, excursions through the region and cinema. Walks can be taken in the Parque de Elche, excursions taken to the Sierra Gelada, you can go swimming on the best beaches of the Costa Blanca, go to the cinema, visit the Aquatic Park, eat and drink in restaurants for all budgets, and practise sports such as sailing and diving and also enjoy the nightlife.

Gastronomy: Coca farcida (flat sponge cake), Arroz a banda (rice in fish broth), arrós amb fesols (rice with beans), bollos a la paleta and guisaet de bull are some of the local dishes. San Blai buns are one of the typical desserts. In Benidorm you can enjoy a range of food from all countries and for all budgets.

Art: Benidorm is like an enormous bazaar, where you can find sommething of everything at any price.

Monuments: The old town centre, church of St James, castle, vantage point and Waxworks.

Cultural Attractions: Wax Museum.

Name of Councillor: Manuel Cabezuelos Lopez

Festivals and Events: Benidorm has the largest calendar of fiestas of the entire province: Fallas, Carnival, Holy Week with a saeta competition(Flamenco-style sacred songs), ´Hogueras´ in honour of St John and Moors and Christians pageants. Patron saint feast day celebrations are held on the 11th and 12th of November in honour of Saint James and the Virgin of the Suffrage which features a re-enactment of the miraculous discovery of the Virgin. The ´Festes de la Carrxofa´ are held in the old town centre during the third weekend of November.

Situation: The capital of the Marina Baixa is reached via the N-332 and via the A-7. Situtated 41 km from Alicante.

Tour of the town: The most famous excursion is the boat trip to L´Illa - a missing section of the nearby Puig Campana mountain. There is subtropical flora and fauna on the bottom of the L´Illa and you can go diving. Another excursion, on foot, climbs up to the Sierra Helada from the watchtower located in the Punta Escaleta, at the end of the Levante beach. There is a large water park, Aqualand, in the Sierra Helada. Other leisure pursuits are Aquascope, Cable Ski, bullfights and the Benidorm Palace.

Sports: There is a sailing school (96.585.30.67), cable-skiing (96.585.13.86), go-karts (96.589.46.76) scuba diving (96.680.17.84 and 96.585.32.27)

Region : LA MARINA BAIXA

Kilometres : 41

Altitude : 15

Number inhabitants 2006 : 67.627