For nearly 60 years, the city has been ruled by the Cross of Benidorm, which towers over the horizon. This 14-meter-tall by 7-meter-wide monument is not only one of the most Instagrammable and photographed locations in the Costa Blanca’s tourism centre, but it also narrates a tale of scandals, anecdotes, and a drastic shift in the city’s course. Historian Francisco Amillo explains on his blog Histobenidorm how what started out as a religious symbol with a defined purpose evolved into a tourism icon that still draws thousands of people today.
- The "sins" committed by Benidorm visitors that endangered Christian ethics
- The myth of the bikini and the legend of the mayor riding a Vespa
- The Church and the Bishopric have clashed against Benidorm
- The day that Benidorm nearly turned into "hell"
- A representation of repentance and community pride is the Cross of Benidorm
- From religion to travel: Instagram is taken over by the Benidorm cross
- Images of and from the Benidorm Cross
- How to get to the Benidorm cross
The “sins” committed by Benidorm visitors that endangered Christian ethics
As part of a religious mission, the Cross of Benidorm was erected atop Serra Gelada in the 1960s with the goal of atoning for the “sins” that apparently European tourists brought with them. The more conservative elements of the era viewed the city, which by that point was already starting to draw vacationers from all over Europe, as a place of immorality where the lax practices of foreigners—particularly the wearing of bikinis—conflicted with the moral standards of the Franco regime.
Beginning in the middle of the 1950s, Benidorm saw a tourism boom that fundamentally changed the town. A tiny fishing community soon rose to prominence as a favoured spot for hundreds of Europeans seeking sand and sun. Mayor Pedro Zaragoza’s vision, which was crucial in promoting the city abroad and building infrastructure to welcome tourists, made this “tourist boom” feasible.
The myth of the bikini and the legend of the mayor riding a Vespa
One of the most well-known and adored mayors of Benidorm, Pedro Zaragoza, has been the subject of several myths and legends throughout the years. Among these, the well-known story that claims the mayor avoided excommunication by the Valencia bishop by travelling to the Pardo palace on his Vespa to request permission for the bikini from Generalissimo Franco jumps out. Francisco Amillo, a historian, contends that these tales are merely fabrications that Zaragoza later created to further his reputation. City Hall has no documentation or proof that these incidents actually happened.
What is known is the confrontation that occurred in the summer of 1959 when a Madrid police officer warned 21-year-old British tourist Judith Marjorie Roberts for wearing a bikini on the Benidorm beach. When the dispute reached the Tugart bar and the young woman smacked the officer, the situation became more heated and resulted in a 10,000 peseta fine and a complaint for assault on authority. The British consul stepped in and called the sanction “disproportionate” when the matter went to trial. In a political ploy, Zaragoza assured the consul that he would advocate for the young woman’s maximum mercy; nonetheless, he requested an exemplary penalty in front of the civil governor and the Orihuela-Alicante Bishopric. Ultimately, the fine was lowered to 4,000 pesetas by the Provincial Court.
The Church and the Bishopric have clashed against Benidorm
This altercation caused tensions between the mayor and the Church in addition to the tourists and the authorities. The priests who were sent as reinforcements over the summer claimed to have seen immorality on the Benidorm beaches, and Bishop Pablo Barrachina was quick to chastise Zaragoza for it. Barrachina complained in a letter that “the immorality turned into a collective sin” and criticised the bikini’s permissiveness. The bikini was only one aspect of the issue for the bishop and the moralists of the day. Among the harshest attacks, Benidorm was described as a “brothel of European homosexuals who corrupted the youth” and a site where “older women seduced young men” amid “dantesque” and “indecent” beach scenes. Additionally, that was prior to the Benidorm Fest, the city’s wild bachelor parties, or the major music festivals. Like the dishonest nun from Alicante, Sister Úrsula Micaela, would the bishop possess the gift of premonition?
The day that Benidorm nearly turned into “hell”
Amid these tensions, Pedro Zaragoza was threatened by the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante with a severe measure: a banner at the city’s gate alerting visitors that they were entering “HELL.” in uppercase. The city’s reputation would have been severely damaged by this gesture, but Zaragoza, who has always been adept at managing the relationship between the Church and tourists, was able to come up with a compromise that would have pleased all sides.
The placement of a massive cross atop the Serra Gelada, guarding the town from above, was ultimately determined to be the most effective method of reminding visitors to act humbly. Constructed from the wooden beams of a lamppost, this cross came to represent “salvation.” It was erected as a reminder that “God was watching them” even though visitors may enjoy freedom on Benidorm’s beaches.
A representation of repentance and community pride is the Cross of Benidorm
The Cross of Benidorm’s placement was no typical occurrence. Residents of the town participated in a sad procession in the final week of 1961, carrying the cross on their shoulders as they made their way from the town centre to the summit of Serra Gelada. In addition to purging the alleged transgressions that tourists carried with them, this act of penitence aimed to protect Christian morality from being undermined by the liberal traditions of European tourists.
The cross became a powerful symbol that could be seen from practically anywhere in the city after that. Over time, its significance evolved, but for the people of Benidorm, it symbolised their dedication to Christian values and customs.
From religion to travel: Instagram is taken over by the Benidorm cross
The Cross of Benidorm lost its religious significance over time and turned into a popular tourist destination. What started out as a way to please the Church and demonstrate that Benidorm’s citizens were still morally upright turned become another draw for the millions of tourists that come to the city each year. It is currently one of the most photographed locations in the area.
The younger generations have embraced the Benidorm Cross as a site of visual worship because of its commanding prominence atop Serra Gelada. Every day, hundreds of images of the cross and the breathtaking views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea from the viewing point are shared on social media, particularly Instagram. It has become one of the most sought-after locations for travellers and influencers who want to capture the essence of Benidorm.
Even though few people today recall the Benidorm Cross’s original purpose, it is still a famous landmark and a great location for photos, particularly at night when it is illuminated and provides a breathtaking view of the city. The cross was rebuilt by a more sturdy structure composed of concrete and iron, which still dominates the landscape, even though the previous version of the monument was damaged by a storm in 1975.
Images of and from the Benidorm Cross
