Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The beginning of Benidorm

Documentaries

The beginning of Benidorm

19/06/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The beginning of Benidorm

How one man grew a sleepy Spanish town into one of the world’s biggest holiday resorts

When Pedro Zaragoza was appointed mayor of Benidorm in 1950, he set about transforming the little town. Now millions of tourists visit every year.

In the 1950s, the transformation of the sleepy little town of Benidorm began when Pedro Zaragoza was appointed mayor. 
 
He started by getting pipes built to allow running water, then went on to pass a decree which allowed women to wear bikinis.
 
Now, every year millions of tourists arrive in Benidorm, on Spain’s Costa Blanca. 
 
This episode was produced by Simon Watts in 2018, using recordings of Pedro Zaragoza. 

(Photo: Tourists flock to the beaches in Spain. Credit: David Ramos via Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The beginning of Benidorm

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service