Benidorm Cross is the perfect place to visit. Now the weather is cooling down, stretch your legs and take a walk up to this famous landmark.
Most visitors know it as one of the city’s most photographed viewpoints. Far fewer realise that its origins are much less glamorous. This towering symbol was first put up as a moral lesson. This came during a time when Spain’s booming tourism industry collided head-on with the Catholic Church.
For more than 60 years, the Cross has watched over Benidorm from its spot high on the Serra Gelada hillside. At 14 metres tall and 7 metres wide, it is one of the most “Instagrammable” landmarks on the Costa Blanca. It is also a reminder of an era when faith, politics, and an increasing number of bikini-clad holidaymakers clashed in Francoist Spain.
A cross to “cleanse the sins” of tourists
Back in the 1960s, the Cross was placed on top of Serra Gelada as part of a mission to redeem Benidorm from the supposed “sins” brought in by European tourists. Some conservative voices of the time believed that the relaxed habits of foreign visitors were a danger to the moral order. Women in bikinis, in particular, were blamed for everything from corrupting the youth to upsetting the bishop’s blood pressure.
Benidorm’s transformation had begun in the mid-1950s under Pedro Zaragoza Orts, the town’s mayor. Once a quiet fishing village, Benidorm quickly became a favourite destination for Europeans seeking sun, sea, and freedom.
The mayor on a Vespa… or not quite
A legendary tale claims that Mayor Zaragoza rode his Vespa all the way to Madrid to beg General Franco to allow bikinis on Benidorm’s beaches. It is a great story, and Zaragoza himself loved repeating it. Unfortunately, historians have pointed out that there is no official record of such a heroic scooter adventure.
What is documented is the case of Judith Marjorie Roberts, a 21-year-old British tourist fined in 1959 for wearing a bikini. When a police officer tried to scold her, she slapped him, which understandably caused quite a stir. The fine reached 10,000 pesetas, and the British consulate was dragged into the drama. The incident highlighted the growing tension between the Church’s strict rules and Benidorm’s new modern identity.
When the church declared Benidorm “immoral”
The bikini debates did not amuse the Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, Pablo Barrachina. He accused Benidorm of encouraging “collective sin” and even threatened to put a huge banner at the town entrance saying: “You are entering HELL.”
To avoid damaging Benidorm’s reputation, Mayor Zaragoza eventually reached an agreement. Instead of a giant doom-and-gloom sign, a Cross would be carried to the top of Serra Gelada as a symbolic reminder of God’s watchful eye.
The procession to the summit
In December 1961, hundreds of locals joined a procession, carrying the enormous wooden Cross from the town centre to the mountain peak. Built from utility beams, the Cross was meant to represent penance and forgiveness. The day became known as the “Day of Forgiveness.”
A municipal bulletin from January 1962 proudly reported the impressive turnout proof that Benidorm was not quite as frivolous as outsiders claimed.
Over time, however, the Cross began to lose its original purpose. What started as a warning slowly became a landmark, a symbol of pride, and eventually, a tourist magnet.
From faith to fame
As the tourism boom continued, the Benidorm Cross shed its moral mission and embraced a new role as one of the best viewpoints in the region. Today, it is a beloved stop for travellers, photographers, influencers, and anyone who enjoys great views of the Mediterranean.
The original wooden Cross was destroyed by a storm in 1975. It was briefly replaced with one made from train sleepers, and later by the current metal version, which lights up once the sun goes down.
Benidorm Cross: A place of memories
Modern visitors will notice commemorative plaques placed around the site. Many people choose the Cross as the place where their ashes are scattered.
The route up the hillside passes impressive villas, including a pink mansion featured in Bigas Luna’s film Huevos de Oro. Each May. The area also hosts the “Subida a la Cruz,” a 9.4 km race that attracts around 200 runners with strong legs and even stronger lungs.
How to reach the Benidorm Cross
Location: Summit of Serra Gelada, Rincón de Loix district.
Walking
- Start: End of Avenida de Montecarlo or Calle Sierra Dorada.
- Route: Begins on paved paths with a fairly steep incline. The walk passes residential streets such as Avenida de Tokio.
- Time: Around 30–45 minutes, depending on how fit you feel or how many photos you stop to take.
By car
- Access: Vehicle entry is restricted from the roundabout at the start of Avenida de Tokio. Only residents and people with reduced mobility may continue.
- Parking: Best to leave your car on Avenida del Mediterráneo or Avenida de Montecarlo, then walk the final stretch.
