Spanish Postal Service releases a stamp dedicated to Benidorm's 700-year history

The 700th anniversary of the founding of Benidorm as a municipality with its legal entity will be immortalised in history on a stamp issued by Correos, inaugurating a new philatelic series called "New Cities." The stamp aims to commemorate the creation of various Spanish towns that emerged during the Middle Ages. The stamp was presented today, the 700th anniversary of the signing of the Carta de Poblament (Town Charter), by Mayor Toni Pérez and the Director of Philately and Institutional Relations at Correos, Nuria Lera, who emphasized that this issue represents a mutual tribute to the historical legacy of the city and the postal company.

"The process to get here has been a long one," said the mayor, who also emphasised that "stamps are a very representative element and part of our historical memory as a people." He thanked Correos for choosing Benidorm to inaugurate this philatelic series.

During his speech, the mayor explained that the efforts to ensure that Benidorm's 700 centuries of history would be forever recorded on a stamp began in 2023 and that "the efforts of José Ivars," president of the Federation of Philatelic Associations of the Valencian Community and the Philatelic and Numismatic Association of Calp, as well as a member of the Royal Hispanic Academy of Philately and Postal History, have been key.

Toni Pérez mentioned that "Benidorm is now part of Coreos' history" thanks to the issuance of this stamp, which also "unites Benidorm's 700 years of history with the 175th anniversary of the first Spanish stamp being issued," which, in his opinion, also represents "a tribute to the cultural legacy that lives on, especially through collectors, and also to the history of communications in our country."

After a few words of remembrance for Emilio Ortuño y Berte (1862-1936) from Benidorm, who before becoming Minister of Public Works during the reign of Alfonso XIII was appointed Director General of the Post Office in 1908, the Mayor of Benidorm concluded his speech by advocating for the revival of the custom of writing letters, buying stamps, and posting them in the mailbox as a tribute to this "700th Anniversary" and also to our history.

For her part, the Director of Philately and Institutional Relations at Correos, Nuria Lera, thanked Benidorm for its "support and impetus" in this project and stated that "it's not every day that a stamp from a large city like Benidorm is presented, much less on the same day and in the same place where the event took place, so today we are doubly grateful."

She also stated that for Correos it is "an honour and a source of pride to be part of this day" and recalled that, over seven centuries, "Benidorm has witnessed many transformations to become the beacon of modernity it is today." "Who hasn't been to Benidorm at some point?" asked the Director of Philately and Institutional Relations, who also praised some of the city's virtues and argued that the presentation of this stamp "should not only be a look back at the past, but an opportunity to look to the present and the future."

Some details about the stamp
Benidorm features in this special issue with a photograph of the city taken from El Castell towards the western area, which also shows part of the municipality's skyline, thus combining the old and the new in a single image; the spot where the first Benidorm was founded, with some of its most iconic skyscrapers. The legend "700th Anniversary of the Founding of Benidorm," the official logo of the "700th Anniversary," and the Benidorm coat of arms complete the elements depicted on the 72,000 stamps issued by the postal company. They have been available for purchase since April 24th for €1.85, the price corresponding to the postage of a letter or standard ordinary postcard of up to 20 grams, addressed to Europe. The '700th Anniversary' stamp has a special format, as Benidorm appears together and in a duet with another significant issue: the 750th Anniversary of the founding of the city of Vila-Real, Castellón, which is represented with an image of King Jaume I, founder of the municipality with his Town Charter in February 20, 1274.

Seven centuries of history

Today, May 8, 2025, marks 700 years since Admiral Bernat de Sarrià granted Benidorm a Carta de Poblament (Town Charter) in a document delivered in Valencia before notary Joan Cerdà. This legal document established the boundaries of the municipality, as well as the rights and duties of the new settlers, who settled on Punta Canfali, the same point on which El Castell (Castell) stood, now one of the most iconic and photographed viewpoints in the entire Mediterranean.

Although archaeological remains attest to the presence of previous settlements in the area now occupied by the city, the most notable of which is the Roman Castellum of Tossal de La Cala, the Carta de Poblament (Town Charter) can be considered Benidorm's birth certificate as a municipality.
Over seven centuries, the city has experienced various events and vicissitudes until it became a leading, unique, and internationally renowned tourist destination. Although its name is synonymous with tourism today, Benidorm was once known for the expertise of its sailors and the skill of its tuna fishermen. The most prominent vessels of the Merchant Navy were piloted by Benidorm residents, who held all ranks of command and crew, and the most coveted tuna fishermen and second-in-command in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic were natives of the town.

In the mid-20th century, Benidorm made a firm commitment to tourism, becoming a key destination in the democratisation of vacations. Since then, it has reinvented itself to remain at the forefront of tourism, which is now digital, technological, and sustainable.

Today, Benidorm maintains more than 60 per cent of its territory protected and boasts one of the most efficient drinking water networks on the planet. Both circumstances, combined with policies promoting sustainability and accessibility, have earned it recognition as a "Green Pioneer for Smart Tourism" destination by the European Community, in the same year it celebrates the 700th anniversary of its founding.