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Benidorm then and now

From a fishing village on its headland to a city of skyscrapers – in historic photos from archives that make their collections freely available.

Then & now

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From the Serra Gelada, 2014 From the Serra Gelada, 1970 19702014
From the Serra Gelada. Around 1970 the first towers rise along Avenida del Mediterráneo and the hinterland is still farmland. Today the city reaches the mountains.1970: Sánchez, Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0 · 2014: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Levante from Rincón de Loix, 2017 Levante from Rincón de Loix, 1954 19542017
Levante from Rincón de Loix. In 1954 Levante beach is lined with low houses, with fields behind them up to the Puig Campana. Today a wall of high-rises stands there.1954: R. Arranz, Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0 · 2017: Nicolas Vigier, CC0 1.0
Balcón del Mediterráneo, 2014 Balcón del Mediterráneo, 1957 19572014
Balcón del Mediterráneo. The viewpoint on the old-town rock has barely changed. Only the lamp and the paving are new.1957: Roberto Arranz, Legado Fernández Fuster / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0 · 2014: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Poniente from the old-town rock, today Poniente from the old-town rock, 1954 1954today
Poniente from the old-town rock. In 1954 Poniente has a few rows of houses and fields up to the Puig Campana. Today the skyline with Intempo stands here.1954: Arranz, Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0 · today: Axel Voigts

From fishing village to skyline

  1. 1859
    1859: Chart of the roadstead, a French re-engraving of the Spanish survey of 1813: a village on the headland, the island offshore.
    Chart of the roadstead, a French re-engraving of the Spanish survey of 1813: a village on the headland, the island offshore.Chart: Maistre, Marseille 1859 · Archivo General Militar de Madrid, Biblioteca Virtual del Patrimonio Bibliográfico, CC BY 4.0
  2. around 1930
    around 1930: The harbour wall with fishing boats. Behind it, Poniente beach – empty.
    The harbour wall with fishing boats. Behind it, Poniente beach – empty.Photo: Ilse Steinhoff, Legado Fernández Fuster / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  3. early 1930s
    early 1930s: Children on the beach below the old-town rock. The new villas are still under scaffolding.
    Children on the beach below the old-town rock. The new villas are still under scaffolding.Photo: Patronato Nacional de Turismo, Legado Fernández Fuster / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  4. 1942
    1942: A handful of hotels and villas on Levante beach, nothing but fields behind.
    A handful of hotels and villas on Levante beach, nothing but fields behind.Photo: Sánchez, Legado Fernández Fuster / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  5. before 1950
    before 1950: Postcard: the old town and the island seen from inland, with fields and pines in between.
    Postcard: the old town and the island seen from inland, with fields and pines in between.Photo: Biblioteca Valenciana, Public Domain Mark
  6. 1959
    1959: Fishermen haul their nets along the harbour wall. The same year the first package tourists arrive, flying in via Valencia.
    Fishermen haul their nets along the harbour wall. The same year the first package tourists arrive, flying in via Valencia.Photo: Olof Hasslöf, Bohusläns museum, Public Domain Mark
  7. around 1960
    around 1960: Deckchairs, parasols, packed beaches: the fishing village has become a resort.
    Deckchairs, parasols, packed beaches: the fishing village has become a resort.Photo: E. de la Vega, Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  8. 1960
    1960: Poniente: sunshades on the beach, the first hotels on the seafront. The fields behind are still open.
    Poniente: sunshades on the beach, the first hotels on the seafront. The fields behind are still open.Photo: Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  9. 1961
    1961: Hotel Planesia, opened around 1960, is one of the first new buildings to rise above the old town.
    Hotel Planesia, opened around 1960, is one of the first new buildings to rise above the old town.Photo: Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  10. before 1963
    before 1963: Postcard from the Serra Gelada: promenade and first apartment blocks, but no high-rise yet.
    Postcard from the Serra Gelada: promenade and first apartment blocks, but no high-rise yet.Photo: Rueck (Marvellí), Biblioteca Valenciana, Public Domain Mark
  11. 1963
    1963: Start of Levante beach: the same row of houses as in 1942, larger blocks behind, rows of sunshades in front.
    Start of Levante beach: the same row of houses as in 1942, larger blocks behind, rows of sunshades in front.Photo: Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  12. late 1960s
    late 1960s: Two high-rises go up behind Poniente, one still a concrete frame.
    Two high-rises go up behind Poniente, one still a concrete frame.Photo: Sánchez, Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  13. around 1967
    around 1967: Looking east from Hotel Planesia: the first towers stand on Levante beach.
    Looking east from Hotel Planesia: the first towers stand on Levante beach.Photo: Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  14. 1970
    1970: Poster from Talavera de la Reina: a brotherhood raffles 40 seats on a coach trip to Benidorm and Alicante, tickets 425 pesetas.
    Poster from Talavera de la Reina: a brotherhood raffles 40 seats on a coach trip to Benidorm and Alicante, tickets 425 pesetas.Poster: Agencia de Viajes Aman, Talavera de la Reina · Biblioteca de Castilla-La Mancha, CC BY 4.0
  15. around 1970
    around 1970: From the Serra Gelada: the old town with church and Planesia, behind it the first row of towers on Poniente.
    From the Serra Gelada: the old town with church and Planesia, behind it the first row of towers on Poniente.Photo: Archivo Fotográfico de la Dirección General de Turismo / Universidad de Zaragoza, CC BY-SA 2.0
  16. 2017
    2017: Levante beach today: the same bay that held a handful of hotels in 1942, now tower after tower all the way to Intempo.
    Levante beach today: the same bay that held a handful of hotels in 1942, now tower after tower all the way to Intempo.Photo: Nicolas Vigier, CC0 1.0