Back then, almost five decades ago, teeny-weeny bikinis weren't just frowned upon in Benidorm, but banned altogether - you could be arrested for showing a bare midriff. However, Mayor Zaragoza had a vision of turning Benidorm into a fabulous holiday resort, so he hopped onto his Vespa and rode all the way to Madrid to ask General Franco for special dispensation. His wishes were granted, and the rest is truly history!
Well, not all of it. 120 hotels were built within years of Mayor Zaragota's liberation of Benidorm, and many of those hotels still stand today. If you have a special appreciation for funky, retro and wonderfully colourful architecture, a holiday to Benidorm from Jet2.holidays.com is a must.
Bright Colours and Quirky Shapes
We're not just talking about the bikinis. Tangerine orange, lime green, pink, purple and yellow are but some of the colours that were chosen for buildings in the 1960's and 1970's, and the shapes of the buildings themselves were even wackier, with hexagons, pentagons and trapeziums among others. What was hip and contemporary then is now kitsch - yet still very, very cool.
Appreciating the architecture might not be the first thing on your list of things to do in Benidorm, but make sure you stop to take a look around, because if the modern architects have their way, the fabulous facades of these unique hotels, restaurants and shops could be gone soon.
However, the colours in Benidorm's architecture are set to stay, as this year Benidorm's brand new beach promenade in Playa Poniente was awarded the prestigious Urban Design Award by World Architecture News.
The promenade was opened in 2009, and features curved white concrete, textured, brightly coloured paving and different areas with water features and lush plant life along the promenade on which to sit, take in the view and really relax on your Benidorm Holidays - just don't forget your camera.
