Local & Spanish

Local & Spanish

The Benidorm government has completed its first 100 days in office after the takeover of the local corporation on June 17, following the municipal elections held on May 28. One hundred days in which the acquired commitments advanced by the city's mayor, Toni Pérez, have been maintained and intensified as soon as he was elected.
Those commitments had to do with the vocation to continue building “a welcoming, open, inclusive and supportive Benidorm” with a development that is based on actions based on “sustainability, innovation, accessibility and governance” with the aim of advancing “towards social, environmental and economic sustainability.” Hence, the mayor stressed today that the purpose is to “achieve accessibility at all levels” and government action is closely linked “to contact with citizens.”
In these first hundred days, the mayor indicated, the “reinforcement of social investments has continued with aid to the groups and entities that need it most, as well as the improvement and renewal of infrastructure necessary to have an increasingly better city. ”. For this reason, Pérez has described this first balance as “very positive and in complete harmony with the commitments made.”
Thus, in terms of aid, the granting of these has reached the main groups and entities in Benidorm. Among them, in this 100-day period, they have been granted to vulnerable families, SMEs and the self-employed and the funds for entrepreneurial projects have been doubled. Appropriations have also been allocated for the expenses of business entities, for the purchase of school supplies, for music schools and students, for health entities and an amount has even been allocated for cooperation with developing countries. This aid chapter includes the million euros directed to the hotels that participated in the 2022 Imserso campaign.
Meanwhile, local infrastructure has continued with the same pace of improvement and renewal that had already begun years ago. In relation to the Water Cycle, in these hundred days an action has been initiated in Bernat de Sarrià to reduce the risk of flooding, accessibility has been improved and the infrastructure of Beniardá Avenue has been renewed, renovation works are being carried out of the pumping of wastewater on Severo Ochoa Avenue, new electric power generation motors have been installed in the WWTP and the rainwater drainage works in the Xixo and Foietes ravines have been completed.
The local public space has also experienced significant improvements and actions with the creation of a new green area in La Cala, the improvement of pedestrian accessibility on Murcia Street, maintenance and conservation actions for urban furniture, new charging points for electric vehicles (Severo Ochoa) or emblematic actions such as the commissioning of the new Levante catenary.
Equally notable are the actions that have been carried out to reduce electricity consumption and in favor of the use of renewable energies. Among them, the completion of the installation of photovoltaic panels in eight schools, in the Palau d'Esports and in the Guillermo Amor sports city stands out, the latter thanks to the achievement of European funds.
Precisely, good management when it comes to obtaining money from the European Union has allowed, among other actions, to begin work on the Mediation Center, to have approved the renovation of the public space between Maravall and Jaime I streets, the acquisition of seven flats for social housing or the next actions to reinforce fires in the El Moralet area.
But, without a doubt, the most successful management in this sense has been the achievement of three million euros of Next Generation funds for the execution of a macro renaturalization project called 'Green and Water: Rooting Benidorm in its Natural Environment'. A project that includes more than 15 actions to increase green surfaces, protect the entire forest mass, and permeate the urban edge with orchard and crop areas. In short, the mayor explained, “a renaturalization project to continue making Benidorm a more resilient city against the effects of climate change.” The one from Benidorm was one of the 19 proposals selected nationally from among the 64 presented.
On the other hand, the contract for the Bus Station has also been awarded after years of litigation and the drafting of the new contract for parks and gardens and the contract for cleaning municipal buildings has begun.
Benidorm, likewise, will continue to be a reference in Europe thanks to its commitment to intelligence. For this reason, the city will be part of the European network of smart cities and will incorporate a flow monitoring system on the beaches that will make it possible to know the degree of occupancy of the beaches every day of the year. The project, which is already in the first phase of implementation, has operated during the months of July and August on a stretch of just over 1.5 kilometers of Poniente beach.
Other areas in which notable action has been taken in these hundred days are those of Mobility and Road Cleaning with initiatives such as the reopening of the underground containers of Carrascos or campaigns to clean rural roads and cliffs, as well as other extraordinary cleaning of neighbourhoods during the summer or a washing plan with reused water from private pools. In terms of Mobility, the implementation of a map of the time spent on pedestrian or bicycle trips, an intelligent parking system for bicycles or the improvement of mobility at the confluence of Europa Avenue with Jaén Street stands out. Furthermore, in this sense, Armada Española Avenue has been reopened after the completion of the hydraulic infrastructure renovation works.
Finally, the government team has undertaken other actions that cover other areas such as the completion of 96 niches in the San Jaime cemetery, the installation of the new artificial grass in the field attached to the Guillermo Amor stadium, the celebration of the 'Exemplary Neighbor' award, the accessibility and security of the surroundings of the Ermita de la Virgen del Mar have been improved and the 'castellum' of Tossal de La Cala has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest.
Similarly, in other areas the local government has promoted the carrying out of training actions organized by the AMPAs, has renewed the lighting in the Horta area and has managed to renew the 'Q' and 'S' flags of the ICTE for the beaches of the city, as well as innovative exhibitions, conferences, photographic exhibitions and shows included in the cultural programming.
The Costa Blanca heads into another huge week of summer, with beaches busy, nightlife in full swing and a packed programme of festivals, sport, culture and family entertainment across Benidorm and the Marina Baixa.
The big talking point this week is the 12 August solar eclipse, with Benidorm and the surrounding coastline preparing for an extraordinary evening as the Moon covers almost the entire face of the Sun.
Hotels are also enjoying strong August demand. Latest regional forecasts put Benidorm's August hotel occupancy at around 92%, underlining the strength of the peak summer season.
☀️ BENIDORM
🏖️ Beaches & Summer Activities
Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas remain at the heart of Benidorm's summer action, with swimming, water sports, boat trips and beach activities continuing throughout the week.
Popular activities include:
🏄 Paddleboarding and kayaking
🚤 Boat trips to Benidorm Island
🪂 Parasailing
🌊 Jet ski experiences
🏐 Beach volleyball
🏖️ Family beach activities
🌅 Sunset cruises
The giant BENIDORM letters on the Tamarindos Promenade continue to provide one of the city's newest photo opportunities, with the installation made from recycled fishing nets recovered from the Mediterranean.
🎿 Benidorm Cable Ski – 60 Years
The legendary Benidorm Cable Ski continues its 60th-anniversary celebrations, marking six decades as one of Europe's pioneering cable-ski facilities.
🎶 Entertainment & Nightlife
Benidorm's famous entertainment scene remains in full summer mode, with live tribute acts, cabaret, comedy, karaoke, DJs, rooftop venues, beach clubs and late-night shows continuing throughout the week.
On Friday 14 August, BRESH takes over SkyFest Benidorm, bringing its mix of pop, reggaeton and commercial music to the city.
Sunday night also brings La Casita de Lo Perreo to KU Benidorm, with reggaeton, DJs and poolside summer entertainment.
🌞 THE BIG EVENT – 12 AUGUST SOLAR ECLIPSE
Wednesday 12 August is set to be one of the most unusual evenings of the summer.
In Benidorm, the eclipse will be partial but exceptionally deep, with approximately 99.5–99.6% of the Sun covered at maximum eclipse around 8.34pm. The Sun will remain very low above the western horizon and will set while the eclipse is still in progress.
This means the Costa Blanca will not experience totality in Benidorm itself, but the dramatic near-total eclipse should still create a striking change in the evening light.
Special eclipse experiences are being organised locally, including an e-bike tour through Benidorm, Albir and Altea, with an evening stop in Altea for eclipse viewing.
For those wanting to experience totality, specialist excursions are also being offered from the Costa Blanca towards areas where the eclipse is total.
⚠️ Never look directly at the Sun without proper certified eclipse protection.
🌿 ALBIR & L’ALFÀS DEL PI
The Albir coastline remains a favourite for visitors looking for a quieter alternative to Benidorm.
🚶 Monday Healthy Walk
Tonight, Monday 10 August, l’Alfàs del Pi continues its weekly healthy walking programme.
The walk begins at 8.00pm from the Anchor at Racó de l’Albir beach, with Costa Blanca Balla coordinating the August routes.
No booking is required and the activity is designed to encourage exercise, wellbeing and social interaction.
♿ Accessible Beach Service
The accessible bathing service at Racó de l’Albir continues until the end of September, offering adapted equipment and assistance for people with reduced mobility.
Visitors can also enjoy the famous Albir Lighthouse Trail, coastal cycling, outdoor activities, restaurants and evening entertainment.
🏰 GUADALEST
The spectacular mountain village of Guadalest remains one of the Costa Blanca's most popular day trips.
Visitors can explore:
🏰 Guadalest Castle
🏛️ Historic museums
⛰️ Mountain viewpoints
🌿 Walking routes
☕ Traditional cafés
🛍️ Local shops and crafts
The municipality is also continuing its work towards becoming a Smart Tourist Destination, focusing on digitalisation, sustainability and smarter tourism management.
🍫 VILLAJOYOSA
Colourful Villajoyosa continues its summer programme with culture and entertainment for residents and visitors.
Highlights include the historic old town, colourful seafront, chocolate heritage and the Valor Chocolate Museum, alongside summer cultural activities.
On Friday 14 August, the town hosts “Manouche Melodies”, a jazz performance by Le Jazz Hot at the Auditori La Barbera dels Aragonés.
On Saturday 15 August, an outdoor screening of Imaginary Friends is scheduled at the same venue.
🎉 LA NUCÍA – FESTES D’AGOST
One of the biggest local celebrations gets underway this week as Les Festes d’Agost de La Nucía run from 14–18 August.
The programme combines traditional celebrations, music, processions, fireworks, family activities and late-night entertainment.
Friday 14 August
The festivities officially get underway with a packed programme of traditional and family activities, followed by evening entertainment.
Saturday 15 August
The programme includes:
⛪ Mass for the Feast of the Assumption
🎺 Procession
🎆 Night-time mascletà
🎶 Live music including Arre-Ak and Malifeta
🎉 Late-night festivities
Sunday 16 August
The celebrations continue with:
🎺 Despertà
⛪ Mass for San Roque
🌸 Floral offering
💃 Traditional dances
🎶 Los Manolos live
🎆 Night-time mascletà
🎮 Free gaming and family activities
The official programme confirms that the festivities continue through 18 August.
🌅 FINESTRAT
🏐 49th La Cala Beach Volleyball Tournament – 15 August
One of the Costa Blanca's great sporting traditions returns to La Cala de Finestrat on Saturday 15 August.
The 49th edition of the tournament will feature men's and women's 4x4 beach volleyball, bringing together high-level players, amateur competitors and spectators.
The tournament has become a major fixture of the summer sporting calendar and is expected to attract large crowds to La Cala.
🎭 Summer Culture
Finestrat's summer cultural programme also continues, with concerts and performances taking place around the historic village and Auditori del Castell.
On Friday 14 August, the Auditori del Castell hosts a concert by Rondalla Cordes i Veus Font del Molí and La Dolça Parranda de Tibi.
The town is also preparing for its major Patron Saint celebrations, which begin on 15 August and continue until 24 August.
🎭 ALTEA
Following the huge Castell de l’Olla fireworks spectacular last weekend, Altea returns to its summer rhythm of art, culture, music and tourism.
The historic old town remains a major attraction, with its whitewashed streets, galleries, restaurants and famous church square.
Visitors can also enjoy:
🎨 Balconades – outdoor art displayed around the old town
🛍️ Evening artisan market
🎶 Summer concerts
🍷 Waterfront dining
🌅 Sunset walks
The Balconades exhibition continues to turn balconies and façades in the old town into an open-air art gallery through August.
🚔 SUMMER SAFETY
With visitor numbers at their seasonal peak, enhanced policing and emergency arrangements remain in place across major tourist areas.
Following the recent fireworks incident at Castell de l’Olla, visitors are also reminded to follow official safety advice at large public events and to rely on information from local authorities and emergency services.
The high summer wildfire risk also remains an important consideration. Visitors should follow local restrictions, avoid fires or barbecues in prohibited areas and report smoke or suspected fires immediately.
📅 THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
🌞 10 Aug – Monday healthy walk, Racó de l’Albir
🌒 12 Aug – Near-total solar eclipse visible from Benidorm
🚴 12 Aug – Special eclipse experiences around Albir/Altea
🎶 14 Aug – BRESH at SkyFest Benidorm
🎭 14 Aug – Manouche Melodies, Villajoyosa
🎉 14–18 Aug – Les Festes d’Agost, La Nucía
🎭 14 Aug – Rondalla Cordes i Veus, Finestrat
🏐 15 Aug – 49th La Cala Beach Volleyball Tournament
🎬 15 Aug – Imaginary Friends, Villajoyosa
🎶 16 Aug – Los Manolos, La Nucía
🌴 Every evening – Live music, entertainment and nightlife across Benidorm
🌴 QUICK SUMMARY
✅ Peak August holiday season
🏖️ Beaches and water sports in full swing
🌞 Near-total eclipse on 12 August
🧜 Summer attractions continue across Benidorm
🎿 Benidorm Cable Ski celebrates 60 years
♿ Accessible bathing at Albir continues until September
🏐 La Cala hosts its 49th beach volleyball tournament
🎉 La Nucía's major August fiestas begin
🎨 Altea's summer art and cultural programme continues
🎶 Live music and nightlife across the Costa Blanca
🌤️ WEATHER & SUMMER ADVICE
The Costa Blanca remains firmly in summer mode, with hot Mediterranean conditions expected.
Visitors should stay hydrated, use high-factor sunscreen, seek shade during the hottest part of the afternoon and take particular care during outdoor activities.
For the eclipse, certified solar viewing protection is essential. Ordinary sunglasses are not suitable for looking at the Sun. In Benidorm, the eclipse will remain partial, despite the exceptionally high level of coverage.
The message for the week is simple: beaches by day, fiestas and entertainment by night – and on Wednesday, look to the sky. 🌴🌞🌒


Local & Spanish


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