Benidorm

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The coast of Benidorm, a holiday resort full of skyscrapers.

Benidorm is a coastal town belonging to the comarca of La Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. According to the 2002 census, Benidorm has a permanent population of 61,352 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 rank granted by the European Union. The tallest building in Spain so far, Gran Hotel Bali, a 4-star hotel with 186 meters high, is located in this city. After London and Milan, Benidorm is the third city with more skyscrapers in Europe; it has 310 buildings exceeding 35 meters high.

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 a theme park called Terra Mítica which is located very close to the city center, at the foot of the mountain.

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