Benidorm celebrated its big day as a city today. During an institutional plenary session, the city council commemorated the 700-year history of the Carta Pobla, signed by Admiral Bernat de Sarrià on May 8, 1325, granting Benidorm the status of an independent municipality, independent of the Barony of Polop.
During the session, Mayor Toni Pérez appealed to citizens to unite to “secure the future of Benidorm and future generations” and to continue to “be a benchmark for the happiness of millions of people.”
Pérez highlighted key aspects of the founding charter as well as significant dates and events in the city’s history over the past 700 years. He highlighted Benidorm’s potential as a “city of sailors and trappers,” the second Carta de Poblament of 1666, the arrival of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge, and the beginning of tourism. “In the second half of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st, Benidorm enjoyed great success thanks to tourism and the dedicated work of many people,” emphasized Pérez, recalling that the city was recognized as a “European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism” by the European Commission in 2025.
The event was attended by the city administration, as well as regional MP José Ramón González de Zárate and his colleagues from Les Corts, Manuel Pérez Fenoll and Mario Villar. Also present were the Director General for Family and Children, Angélica Such, former mayor Rafael Ferrer, members of the 700th Anniversary Commission, representatives of the Carta de Poblament group, as well as representatives of the state security forces and corps, businesses, academic, cultural, social, festive, and neighborhood institutions. Rafael Alemany, Custodian of the Carta Pobla Act and Honorary President of the Anniversary Commission, was also among the guests.
In addition, as part of the 700th anniversary celebrations, Correos presented a new stamp in the plenary hall, dedicated to Benidorm’s 700-year history. This stamp is the first in a new philatelic series entitled “New Towns.”
According to the mayor, the process of obtaining this stamp was “lengthy” and represents “a tribute to the cultural heritage of our country and the history of communication.”
Finally, on Saturday, May 10, Plaça de Sant Jaume will host a performance of the Carta Pobla by the Carta de Poblament group of the Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge. The performance begins at 9:30 p.m. and will feature musical accompaniment by a group playing ancient musical instruments.
