Ex Mayor Dies

founding father of modern Benidorm

Benidorm's ex mayor, Pedro Zaragoza Orts, died on Tuesday aged 85. He'd been admitted to hospital a few days earlier with heart problems and died of complete organ failure brought on by this in the early hours of 1st April.

He is regarded by most people as the founding father of both modern Benidorm and mass tourism as it was he who kick-started the development of the town way back in the 50's.

Responsible for the whole look of the town with its towering skyscrapers he is also probably more well known for his 8 hour moped ride all the way to Madrid to personally ask Franco to allow women to wear bikinis on Benidorm's beaches. Franco said yes, the church called off their threats of excommunication, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The funeral of Zaragoza, who was mayor from Christmas Eve 1950 until 12th October 1966, took place yesterday and was attended by hundreds and hundreds of people from the area who will truly miss this visionary man.

3 April 2008 Stephen White.