Costa Blanca

The best ice cream makers in the world met in Benidorm

Gelateria Pinocchio’s Alex Fratini, an ice cream maker and representative for Abreca (Association of Bars, Restaurants and Cafeterias), together with Marco Levati, the organization’s director, joined the mayor on a tour of the various stands.

In the Benidorm Ice Cream Grand Prix, 150 competitors vie for the coveted title and exclusive prizes, with a Porsche Boxter taking first place, a Vespa Piaggio coming in second, and a Bravo machine coming in third. The competition blends creativity, technique, and flavour.

Prominent figures from the industry, including Paco Torreblanca, the world’s top pastry chef in 2022 and the recipient of the Generalitat’s Medal d’Or 9 d’Octubre in 2024, as well as 150 participating businesses and over 4,500 operators from throughout Europe, attended the tournament. Among these, Gelateria Pinocchio stands in for Benidorm. According to Marco Levati, the event has doubled the number of attendees each year, with over 6,000 specialists participating overall in 2025.

Toni Pérez’s attendance was intended to highlight Benidorm’s dedication to projects that “boost the projection of the city as a first-class tourist and gastronomic destination.” As the mayor has stated, “The Ice Cream Grand Prix not only highlights the talent of ice cream makers, but also reinforces the image of Benidorm as a place where excellence and innovation have a place.” This event is significant for the town. In a field that has its roots and recognition in the province of Alicante, he has identified this event as the second most significant in the world.

With suggestions that delighted the jury and the general public, the event, which concludes today, has flooded the Melià Villaitana hotel with flavours and scents. The jury has tasted the pros’ chocolate and mango masterpieces in anonymous containers. Twelve of them were chosen, and they have since produced the traditional Cremino ice cream from Piedmont, Italy. The awards ceremony, which is a much-anticipated event that will wrap up two days of fierce competition, will take place today. This new edition of the 2025 Ice Cream Grand Prix solidifies its standing as one of the sweetest and most eagerly awaited events on the calendar, adding to Benidorm’s cultural and economic vibrancy. Other ice cream competitions in Budapest, Hungary, Vienna, Austria, and Split, Croatia, will follow throughout 2025.

However, the event organisers have already said that the winner would receive a Maserati and that the awards will be upgraded to a higher level the following year.

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Related Topics:2025 Alicante Benidorm Croatia Europe Italy Mayor Province Public Tourist

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Costa Blanca

21 expensive cars that were stolen in the U.S. were found Valencia port

Together with the US Container Security Initiative, the Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency found 21 high-end cars that were stolen in the U.S. and were on their way to Africa in the port of Valencia. The cars, which were worth a total of €1.1 million, were reported stolen and were being moved in containers.

The cars were stolen in the U.S. and were on their way to different places in Africa, stopping in Valencia’s port. Risk analysis units made up of Guardia Civil and Tax Agency officers were able to find several packages that might not have had the goods that were claimed to have been inside.

With the help of the information gathered, it was confirmed that stolen cars that had been in Valencia on their way to the United States had actually arrived. The groups that ship stolen cars either traded legally declared cars for stolen ones or directly declared the stolen cars as other goods, like furniture or mattresses.

In the past few weeks, 21 vehicles have been found and will be sent back to their home countries to be given to their original owners.

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Costa Blanca

14 immigrants were saved on a boat 45 miles off the coast of Alicante

On Wednesday, 2nd April, the Maritime Rescue ship Salvamar Leo saved 14 immigrants who were travelling in a boat about 45 miles from Alicante.

In the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday, Maritime Rescue sent out its Helimer 223 helicopter and the Salvamar Leo, which is based in Alicante, to save the people on a small boat.

Their journey began on the Salvamar Leo, which took them to the Temporary Assistance Centre for Foreigners in the port of Alicante. There, the Red Cross took care of them.

The Red Cross says that all of the refugees they saved were men, and two of them were younger than 15 years old. They were all healthy after being treated.

The National Police took over the refugees after getting help from the Red Cross. They are now trying to find the boat’s captain so they can arrest him, as is normal in these situations.

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Costa Blanca

Dénia wrestler arrested in connection with a network that smuggled 300 kilos of cocaine from Ecuador

The National Police’s Drugs and Organised Crime Unit arrested a famous mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from Dénia. He was part of a gang that was partly broken up in August over a shipment of 300 kg of cocaine from Ecuador that came into the port of Valencia. The fighter from Dénia is one of five people who were caught by police. Along with nine other gang members who were already in jail at the time, they are now in jail.

The man who was arrested in Dénia is thought to be the trusted man of the gang’s leader, who is also an MMA fighter, and the person who is said to have worked as a go-between in the operation.

Levante-EMV also says that the broken-down network is linked to another shipment of 490 kg of cocaine that came into the port of Valencia in April of last year.

The five people who were just caught went before Valencia’s Investigative Court No. 20 yesterday, April 3rd.