Benidorm, Topography of Mass Tourism
Planned under Franco, who sought to develop tourism on the coasts, the city of Benidorm, which was then only a fishing port, was entirely redesigned for leisure and vacations and became in just a few decades the first destination of mass tourism in Spain. Located on the Costa Blanca, northeast of Alicante, Benidorm enjoys a sunny climate all year round; a major advantage that attracts a predominantly North European clientele.
Benidorm is a planned city conceived on a highly dense vertical model. Organized by activity zones – entertainment, shopping, food, beach – it favors proximity and the organization of services. Mostly composed of massive concrete towers – the tallest of which is 192 meters high – the city holds the world record for the number of skyscrapers per inhabitant. A verticality that is supposed to protect the ecosystem around the city.