Casco Antiguo, also known as "El Castell", is the historic heart of Benidorm, founded by a royal charter (Carta Puebla). It sits atop the Cerro Canfali, a headland overlooking Playa Mal Pas.
History & origins
The neighbourhood has kept its traditional Mediterranean architecture, with whitewashed façades, flower-decked balconies and narrow, cobbled streets. It faces Isla de Benidorm, visible from Playa Mal Pas.
Heritage & architecture
The Church of San Jaime y Santa Ana, built between 1740 and 1780 at the top of the Cerro Canfali, blends neoclassical elements with popular Valencian Baroque. Oral tradition holds that the church houses the statue of the Virgin of Suffrage, found intact among the wreckage of a burnt-out ship. The Balcón del Mediterráneo, a pentagonal viewpoint square at the tip of the headland, occupies the site of a former defensive fortress against pirates, destroyed in 1812 during the Peninsular War by British troops seeking to stop Napoleonic forces from settling there; it was after this destruction that the point became the esplanade we know today. Another neighbourhood highlight, Calle Santo Domingo, nicknamed by everyone "Calle de los Vascos" (Basque Street), is packed with the pintxo taverns and tapas bars that liven up Casco Antiguo's nightlife and food scene.
Church of San Jaime y Santa Ana
Built 1740-1780Neoclassical and popular Valencian Baroque.
Balcón del Mediterráneo
Pentagonal viewpointFormer site of a defensive fortress, destroyed in 1812.
Calle de los Vascos
Calle Santo DomingoPintxo taverns and tapas bars.
Plaza Castell, Senyoría, Sant Jaume
Three squaresSurrounding the church.
Playa Mal Pas
Small sheltered beachFacing Isla de Benidorm.
Isla de Benidorm
IsletVisible from Playa Mal Pas.
Culture & living traditions
Casco Antiguo is the only neighbourhood in Benidorm whose identity rests on a documented history before the 20th century, a continuity that neither Levante nor Rincón de Loix shares. Oral tradition holds that the church houses the statue of the Virgin of Suffrage, found intact in a wrecked ship, a founding story reported by several tourism sources.
Suggested itinerary
Morning · 9am-12pm: Streets and church
Whitewashed streets, the Church of San Jaime y Santa Ana and its three squares.
Afternoon · 12pm-5pm: Viewpoint and beach
Balcón del Mediterráneo, then down to Playa Mal Pas.
Evening · from 5pm: View over Isla de Benidorm
Sunset from the Balcón del Mediterráneo, dinner in one of the neighbourhood's side streets.
Suggested itinerary, not field-tested.
Frequently asked questions
When was Casco Antiguo founded?
On 8 May 1325, by a royal charter granted by Admiral Bernat de Sarrià in the name of King Jaime II.
What is the Balcón del Mediterráneo?
A pentagonal viewpoint square, on the former site of a defensive fortress against pirates, destroyed in 1812 by British troops during the Peninsular War.
Where can you go for a drink or tapas in Casco Antiguo?
Calle Santo Domingo, nicknamed "Calle de los Vascos", which is packed with the neighbourhood's pintxo taverns and tapas bars.
What is the history of the Church of San Jaime y Santa Ana?
Built between 1740 and 1780, it blends neoclassical style with Valencian Baroque.
Is Casco Antiguo close to the lively beaches?
Yes, it looks straight down over Playa Mal Pas and borders Poniente via the same headland.
What can you see from the Balcón del Mediterráneo?
A view over the sea and, depending on the angle, the Levante skyline.
