'Memory of Benidorm' postcard exhibition welcomes tourists from the seven Espais d'Art Urbà

The Department of Historical and Cultural Heritage is launching an exhibition these days with which “we welcome the thousands of tourists who visit us during Holy Week, through a story that begins and ends with them, because the holidays, our city and the tourists are the protagonists of the postcards that make up this exhibition, which can already be seen in the seven Espais d'Art Urbà.”

This was stated today by the councillor for the department, Ana Pellicer, who explained that 'Memory of Benidorm' is “an exciting journey of several decades through the transformation of the city and how it was promoted, claimed and shown to the world through of a communication tool as effective and direct as the postcard.”

Pellicer has delved into the fact that “long ago and for many decades, vacations were marked by sending postcards to family and friends and they used to get a card from the place where they had been happy those days.” “This gesture allowed Benidorm to be taken to many points in Spain and abroad; a Benidorm captured on many occasions by local photographers such as Quico Pérez Bayona, Simeón Nogueroles or Marvelli and transformed into a postcard by distribution companies such as Hermanos Galiana or Escudo de Oro”, she added.

The 77 postcards that make up 'Memory of Benidorm' come from the collections of the Municipal Archive and "for the first time they are exhibited together." Among the selection of postcards, a clear predominance of colour "although there is also a small sample of black and white cards, with more folkloric elements."

Pellicer has highlighted that "despite the passage of decades, there are meeting points between that Benidorm and the current one since the places and points selected for those postcards continue to be the most visited and photographed to this day." The Castell, the beaches, streets of the old town such as Carreró dels Gats or panoramic views from La Creu "were once a postal resource as they are now for the social media publications of those who visit us."

To the postcards with views of Benidorm "are added those published by the tourist accommodations, in which testimony was given of the facilities and services they offered to tourists, and which undoubtedly make up one of the curiosities of this exhibition."

'Memory of Benidorm' can be visited until after the summer in the Espais d'Art Urbá Els Tolls, Carrascos, Pont, Hispanitat, El Campo, Ponent and Castell.