Benissa,
hotspot for the
Mediterranean
smart set
Benissa,
hotspot for the
Mediterranean
smart set
The best stage in the world, better than any film set, is a real life location. And few places are as special as Benissa, a unique municipality in the Community of Valencia which is situated in the north-west of Alicante province, and which has become a hotspot for the smart set.
The Tourist Office oversees the Benissa Film Office, which lends its support to producers and audiovisual media who want to use the location for their projects. The organisation's staff provide all necessary information, whether it be for films, series, programmes or other media.
Benissa by the sea
Benissa by the sea
Sports Port
The waters that lap the shores of Benissa come to rest in its marina. A small jetty adjacent to the town of Calpe affords views of unique geographic landmarks such as the Peñón de Ifach Rock or the Bay of Moraira. Les Bassetes makes an ideal dock for boats of small draught and length, but also serves as the headquarters of various yachting and diving clubs, while catamaran and windsurfing courses are held in the surrounding waters. Local inhabitants have respected the mountain that rises above them, with its botanical riches, and have followed its natural course down towards the coast, where lovely bays meet crystal clear waters. Within this setting, the port is a discreet construction that blends seamlessly into its surroundings, transmitting serenity and inviting visitors to take a walk around. The scene of family meals, early-morning and dusk walks, meeting point for the sporty, and haven for boats that are setting off into the Mediterranean.
Nature Trail
One option to discover the coast of Benissa is walking the Nature Trail, a stretch of low difficulty which features easy-access steps in steeper areas. With a length of approx. 2.6km (1.6 miles), it winds past emblematic landmarks such as the Nautical Club, the Les Bassetes beach, the bays of Fustera and Pinets, and provides delightful sea views. In the vicinity, the remains of a 14th-15th century lookout tower are to be found, the Torre de la Casa de les Calcides de Benissa, located near the Baladrar ravine. Some of the characteristic plants found in the area include thyme, and the Cat’s head Jarilla (creosote bush), found only in a few points of the Mediterranean, and which form an important flora micro-reserve. As you walk, you will come across beaches, rocky coves, and cliffs where the waves collide; the route affords unbeatable views of the calm seas, so still they clearly reflect the skies, so stunning at dawn and dusk. It's awe inspiring to think of the vast swathes of Oceanic Posidonia under the sea, with its flowers and fruits, which reflect the water's superior qualities.
Cala Fustera Cove
Fine natural sand on one side of the shore, meadows of Posidonia on the other. Cala Fustera is a bay of some 110 metres long and 40 metres wide, and is one of the most special places on the Benissa coast. Popular with the locals, its natural delights have been protected from the impact of mass tourism and it has been proudly awarded a Blue Flag, a recognition given to beaches with sound environmental management. It is also considered a micro-reserve protected for its natural riches, in particular for the amount of Cat Head Jarilla to be found here, a species found only in very few areas around the Mediterranean. Fustera cove is the perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset. Here, there is a striking contrast between the lush green vegetation of the coast and the turquoise blue waters of the sea, although these ultimately blend harmoniously and evoke an immense sense of peace and calm. Nearby is the Fustera Cave, over 10 metres high, which affords stunning views of the coast—whose depths are only for the more intrepid.
Rocket Pinets Cove
Small and wild, Pinets Cove is a pebbly beach of great beauty. Some 20 metres long, this is a small bay where pine trees tumble towards the sea with only rock to stop them. From Pinets you can access the Mar Morta or Dead Sea, which owes its name to a small, shallow inlet completely sheltered by rocks. Thanks to being protected from the waves, this calm beach is ideal for children to swim in, as well as for underwater sports. The well-known Roques Negres complete the scene—rocky formations with reddish hues that match the so-called 'sea tomatoes’. Yet again, another coastal phenomenon that is worth mentioning: we're speaking of this intensely coloured anemone, found in clean, well-oxygenated waters, which spends the day with its tentacles retracted and only unfolds at nightfall.
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Sports port -
Nature trail -
Cala Fustera cove -
Cala Pinets cove
Historical Benissa
Historical Benissa
Calle Puríssima, the town's main thoroughfare
The heart of Benissa beats in its unique historical centre, compact yet full of charm. Here, whitewashed houses replete with historical details stand side by side with stately renaissance-style manors, vestiges of past glory. The cobblestones found in some of its streets, known as 'cinca', come from coastal boulders. Calle Puríssima is the town's main street, traversing the historical centre from east to west. From the Plaza del Portal and the Placeta de l'Església Vella, where a replica of the old church door is found, via Sala del Consell with its stone arches, which is the public dean's office, or the Casa de Juan Vives, a house that narrates the story of two pilgrims who left a miraculous statue behind which was to become the town’s present patron saint. It also passes the Plaça del Rei Jaume I, before arriving at the new church, the Puríssima Xiqueta, a neo-gothic building built in the 20th century. It is known locally as the Oceanic Cathedral, due to its vast size. La Puríssima is a street that embodies different eras of Benissa's history from the middle ages to the renaissance, and which throughout its entire length, houses the town's most emblematic shops.
Stately Desamparat street
Popularly known as the carrer dels rics ('street of the rich'), Desamparats is the town of Benissa's finest and most noble of streets. Towards the end of the 18th century, the town walls were expanded to create a second extension where the richest families settled in search of the best views, more peace and quiet, and good outdoor access. Family names such as Torres Orduña and Abargues, or Baydal and Feliu led the construction of the homes that can still be seen to this day. Interestingly, the best buildings, with their large entranceways and iron grilles, are to be found to the right side, where the nobles lived; to the left the houses are smaller and lower, as these were built for the servants. This contrast of flamboyance and modesty is found often in Benissa's past, which in the present gives rise to unique locations. Access to Desamparats street is from Ángel street, and at the entrance is the Cantó del Asilo, a narrow alley whose name is taken from a family home where the Piera-Torres family set up a nursing home.
Past and present in Cases del Batlle
The houses of Cases del Batlle take their name from the fact that this is where the town's mayor lived. They are comprised of two houses from La Puríssima street, built at the end of the 16th century on a site previously occupied by a Muslim farmstead. These currently belong to the local authorities and have undergone significant renovations, which have strived to maintain the buildings’ original details alongside new features. Inside, the stone walls contrast with weathering steel, which looks like rusty iron. In the entranceway, one finds a preserved wall from the old Andalusian grain house, where the rammed earth building techniques of the time can be appreciated; the lower patio also features an old oil mill with its stone, which was used to press olives. Back in the present day, among the public functions they have been given, the houses host a library and a modern art gallery that has featured, since 1982, the winners of the Salvador Soria painting prize. There are also various offices and a conference hall where cultural activities take place. The Cases del Batlle comprise a historical enclave in Benissa, attesting to how the past thrives to the present day.
The bourgeois Casa Abargues
The atmosphere that emanates from Casa Abargues, one of the most emblematic houses in the municipality of Benissa, is nothing less than unique. This is a palatial home from the 18th - 19th century, in whose interior reigns an air of the nobility of the time, as proclaimed by the heraldic shield found at the door. Its rooms give authentic testimony to how the East Coast gentry once lived. From its central courtyard to the stables and bodegas, via the kitchen and the foyer, which in the past served as the entrance for carriages, interesting details have been preserved such as the alert device used by the nobles to call on their servants, over 100 books from the 18th century, and a fountain decorated with the remains of natural stalactites. One of the most stunning features is the stairway clad in Valencian tiling with rural motifs, via which one accesses the upper floor and the rooms of the lords, amongst which the Blue Lounge stands out, as well as the private chapel dedicated to the Mare de Deus dels Desamparats. Back in the day it boasted a papal bull to celebrate mass.
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Puríssima street -
Desamparats street -
Cases del Batlle -
Casa Abargues
Private Locations
In addition to the locations in public spaces, Benissa offers a variety of private spaces that can be very interesting: stately homes, luxury homes, restaurants, sport points, warehouses ... Contact directly with the agents of the Film Office for any personalized request.
Shot Benissa
River Island - Cala Advocat and Pinets
Lewis family's clothing firm has more than 300 fashion shops around the world, in countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Georgia or Canada
RTVE shows beaches and tradition
TV program 'Here the Earth' talked about classic trades, such as estisoradores or carreters, and showed Cala Fustera from the sky. They also visited Nature Trail and ate putxero de polp
Spanish cinema - Historic center
Jaime Pujol or Antonio Hortelano have performed in the historical center of Benissa, in the movie ‘La Camisa de la Serpiente’(1996). It has also been shot here ‘Amanece que no es poco’ (1989), directed by José Luis Cuerda
Vogue - Cala Fustera
The American magazine, considered the most influential fashion publication in the world, and which is published in more than twenty countries, has chosen the beaches of Benissa for some of its fashion reports
Also in webserie format
'Wintersun' is a comedy webserie, which is set in the Marina Alta and shows, throughout its ten episodes, all the richness of the region. In his third chapter appears the center of Benissa
Technical specifications
Benissa wants to be the scene of projects. We are very excited to collaborate with you
Time frames
Notification must be given at least 7 working days in advance in order to process the necessary permits, in particular in cases that require traffic disruptions.
Accommodation
Lodgings for the crew will be managed within the municipality, with the support of the Benissa Film Office.
Dangerous material
Filming activities that require the use of firearms, explosives, pyrotechnics or dramatic special effects require authorisation for the relevant authorities, with regards to their transportation, storage and use. On such film shoots, it is required to provide reasonable notice to the police force, fire brigade, and emergency services, to allow for proper supervision.
Urban furnishings
Removal or alteration of any elements must be carried out only with authorisation.
Animals
Such film shoots must comply with current animal welfarelaws, and animals must always be accompanied.
Occupational risks
The applicant organisations must comply with the requirements set out in local laws on workplace health and safety measures. Specifically, film shoots that take place in areas of road traffic must comply with road sign regulations as the current regulations.
Cleaning
The applicant organisation will be responsible for the full clean up of sites used for authorised film shoots. In case of non-compliance, the cleaning costs incurred must be paid in full.
Bonds
The production company agrees to leave all filming locations exactly as they were found. As a general rule, it will not be necessary to provide any bond, unless Benissa Film Office deems it convenient.
Insurance
The production company in charge of filming is entirely responsible for costs and damages incurred by filming activities, both to the Benissa town hall, as well as to any other public or private body. Reparations must also be made to the affected individual, including physical and traffic-related damage. Thus, the public liability insurance policy should provide sufficient cover for the above.
Documentation
Any audiovisual production filmed in Benissa must prominently include, in the opening or closing credits, the municipality's promotional corporate identity, as well as the logo of the Benissa Film Office. The authorities must also be informed of the release/ distribution date, and be provided with a copy of the production along with 4 photos from the shoot for internal use, for the purposes of publication on the internet and local promotional use. FInally, all interested parties must fill out and submit the following forms to the Tourist Office, either in person or by email. PDF form for download.
Tourist Info Benissa
Phone:
E-mail:
Mobilephone:
Contact persons:
Loli Vicens y Mónica Ivars
Resource Guide
Establishments that collaborate with the Benissa Film Office
