| Benidorm is one of Spain's most popular holiday | | | | of its three beautiful EU blue-flag beaches; Poniente, |
| destinations for both British and Dutch tourists. But it | | | | Levante and Mal Pas. |
| owes its entire current day prominence as a desirable | | | | Plucky Pedro is now in his 80s, still Mayor of Benidorm |
| resort to the pluck of its current mayor Pedro | | | | and definitely has no regrets at the outcome of his |
| Zaragoza, for it was he that single-handedly started | | | | long scooter ride, over 55 years ago. Indeed, he |
| the beach revolution in Spain in 1953. | | | | continues to promote his home village - which is now a |
| Ideally located on the Costa Blanca coast of Alicante, | | | | leading European holiday resort - and was recently |
| the fishing village of Benidorm had everything required | | | | spotted at the opening of the newest and highest |
| to become a successful resort; long sandy beaches | | | | Benidorm hotel. Although much of the beachside |
| on the edge of the gorgeous blue Mediterranean Sea, | | | | Benidorm accommodation is offered in high-rise hotels |
| fantastic year-round sunshine, and plenty of room to | | | | such as the new building, there are also a significant |
| build brand new hotels. Yet, in the early 1950s visitors | | | | number of villas in the resort for those without a head |
| were staying away. | | | | for heights, or a need for something more private. |
| A young entrepreneur named Pedro Zaragoza was | | | | As well as beach developments, Pedro and his fellow |
| convinced that the biggest single reason for the | | | | Benidorm businessmen have heavily invested in |
| no-shows was because women were banned from | | | | family-friendly water and theme parks. Close to |
| wearing bikinis in public. There was little point in | | | | Levante are two superb parks; Aqualandia Water |
| spending time on the beach if you were forced by law | | | | Amusement park and Mundomar Marine Exotic Animal |
| to remain covered, so Pedro knew there what he | | | | Park. |
| must do; go to Madrid and persuade Spain's Dictator | | | | Further inland is the marvellous Terra Mitic, which is |
| General Franco to overturn the ban that applied | | | | themed into four areas based on the ancient |
| throughout the deeply religious Roman Catholic country. | | | | civilizations of Rome, Egypt, Greece and Iberia with the |
| The bikini ban was the only thing preventing the | | | | lslands area in the centre being the hub between them |
| transformation of his idyllic, but financially bereft fishing | | | | all. The park features thrilling rides including inverted |
| village into a lucrative holiday destination. So, in an act | | | | roller-coasters and other adrenaline-boosting rides and |
| of bravado Zaragoza got on his Vespa scooter and | | | | when combined with all the other attractions in |
| rode for eight hours to plead an audience with Franco. | | | | Benidorm proves irresistible to many holidaymakers. |
| Still wearing his oil-stained trousers, Pedro sat in front | | | | Benidorm is now a world away from its fishing village |
| of the dictator and passionately made his case. | | | | roots, with many of its residents boasting a standard |
| Remarkably Franco agreed to overturn the ban. | | | | of living the likes of which they could never have |
| Fast forward 55 years and Benidorm is now a thriving | | | | imagined back in 1953 - before Pedro jumped on his |
| holiday resort, reminiscent of a miniature New York, | | | | bike and visited the General! |
| with many 'skyscraper' hotels dotted along the length | | | | |