spain 6-7 2/3/10 16:22 Page 47
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spain knowledge
Benidorm
Sun, sea &
M
anuel Perez Rubio is passionate
about his town. Driving down
from Alicante airport towards
a commanding view of
champagne?
skyscraper hotels, Manuel – director of
tourism for Benidorm – tells me the area
is “defeated by an image of cheap flights,
sunburn and booze”.
“Something has got to be done to expel
the propaganda about Benidorm,” he says.
As Benidorm gears up to hold its first major “It is seen in the wrong light, and everyone
travel conference in June, Jon Watson finds
ignores the luxury we have here.”
lesser-known cultural and luxurious sides to
Yes, drunken Brits may still roam the
streets in high season, but a different and
this classic beach holiday destination impressive side is starting to emerge. You
just have to know where to look.
I started with the striking, recently-opened
promenade which leads from the charming
old town and the site of the former castle,
across into the sunset on Poniente beach.
The paving slabs are colour-coded from
green to red and the path snakes towards the
mountains.
There are walkways down to the beach,
where wooden decking lets you get close to
the sand without ruining your inner soles.
It’s a surprisingly tranquil spot and it gives
tourists and locals the chance to share a
nice, modern way to work off a late and
boozy lunch with the sea breeze.
Behind the promenade, the old town
offers a refreshing and authentically Spanish
experience, where you can shop at a host of
small boutiques and larger chain stores, or
enjoy a cheap meal at one of the excellent
backstreet tapas bars.
On the edge of the old town there is
also the recently opened Town Hall. It’s a
modern and stylish building with a huge
avenue running right through the centre.
It is enveloped by light blue glass on
which the names of residents from
Benidorm’s history are written, a nice
architectural touch.
Eastward across the Playa De Levante,
through the commercial centre and up
towards Sierra Helada, you get a panoramic
view from the foot of the Benidorm Cross.
It is here that the two sides of the town
show through. During the day you can look
over the “W”-shaped bays and Villajoyosa
in the distance. Behind you is the Sierra
Helada, a natural park protected by the
government, where explorers can get a
chance to see the wilder side of the Costa
Brava. However, at night it will be hard to
The charming old town of Benidorm look anywhere but at the Turn to 48
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