Benidorm looked very different when Sylvia Plath arrived for her honeymoon in the summer of 1956. Seventy years later, you can follow some of the same streets and places that found their way into her letters, diaries, poetry, paintings and photographs.
Benidorm Council has organised three free walking routes during October to mark the 70th anniversary of the American poet’s stay in the town with her husband, fellow poet Ted Hughes.
Better still for English-speaking residents, one of the walks will be entirely in English.
Three Sylvia Plath walks in October
The first route takes place on Saturday 3 October in Valencian and will be led by Pasqual Almiñana, author of Quan Sylvia Plath va vindre a Benidorm (When Sylvia Plath Came to Benidorm).
A Spanish-language walk follows on Saturday 17 October, with the English version taking place on Saturday 24 October.
All three start at 09:30 from the entrance to Parque de Elche.
The route will take walkers through places associated with Plath’s six-week stay in Benidorm and explore how she recorded the town in her work and correspondence.
Organisers will also use photographs and other material from the period, alongside extracts from Plath’s writing, including letters to her mother describing the Benidorm she encountered in 1956.
Six weeks that stayed with Sylvia Plath
Plath and Hughes arrived in Benidorm in mid-July 1956 during their honeymoon and remained until the end of August.
In a letter to her mother dated 14 July, Plath wrote about finding a place that felt like home.
The couple’s visit came long before Benidorm developed the skyline and tourism industry familiar to residents today. Plath recorded what she saw through letters, journals, poems, photographs and artwork, leaving an unusual glimpse of the town at a pivotal point in its history.
Benidorm is now using the anniversary to revisit that connection.
In July, the council installed a mural on Levante beach near Torrejó featuring an image of Plath during a day at the beach and words from her correspondence.
The Central Library has also added a display featuring the same illustration. It already has a reading point dedicated to Plath and Hughes, with their work and related books available to readers.
How to join the walks
The Sylvia Plath routes are free, but places are limited.
Benidorm Council recommends registering in advance by emailing museubocacalvari@benidorm.org. Include the number of people attending and specify whether you want the Valencian walk on 3 October, Spanish walk on 17 October or English walk on 24 October.
The council may add further dates if demand is high.
More Sylvia Plath events are also planned over the coming weeks, including talks and screenings, as Benidorm continues its programme marking 70 years since her stay.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Benidorm is marking 70 years since Sylvia Plath stayed in the town.
- Three themed walking routes will follow places connected with the poet.
- The Valencian-language walk takes place on Saturday 3 October.
- The Spanish-language route follows on Saturday 17 October.
- An English-language walk takes place on Saturday 24 October.
- All three leave Parque de Elche at 09:30.
- Participation is free, but places are limited.
- Register by emailing museubocacalvari@benidorm.org with your chosen date and number of participants.
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