The history of Benidorm, like that of much of this region, extends back to well over a millennia, its relevant history - that has helped shape what the city is today - however only dates back to the 11th and twelfth centuries.
During this period, the region was under the Moorish control and much of its outlying areas were developed by them, this was to shape the region's economy for several centuries to come.
In the 13th century, however, this area was wrested from the Moors by the Spanish and by the 14th century, Benidorm was officially created as an outpost town to keep the Moors and Barbary advances in check.
From here onwards the town continued to develop over time and throughout its rich history, went through several major upheavals.
It was abandoned by the local population several times due to fear of Barbary attacks and the increasing frequency of these pirate invasions, it was sold off by the crown once as well when it became too difficult an area to administer due to its remoteness from the Spanish Capital.
It has only been recently repopulated over the past three of centuries after extensive incentive based repopulation plans were laid out to re attract settlers to this region after it was made more secure.
Even then, Benidorm experienced large-scale emigration in the early 20th century due to an economic crisis and civil strife, but by the early 1930s, it was again being resettled by people attracted by the thriving agricultural and fisheries business in the region.
By the 1960s, however, this too was to change as the entire region of Alicante experienced a tourism centric development boom that invited much capital and many permanent settlers.
Since then there has been no looking back for Benidorm as it has continued to develop and is one of Spain's premier tourist destinations today.