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A lack of funds led
Zaragoza to become a traveling salesman. He then became a porter at a rail station in Madrid. He soon became a miner of phosphate but advanced quickly to become manager of the mining company. He returned to Benidorm when his father died and became a bank manager at a branch there.
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In 1967, after stepping down as mayor, Zaragoza's high-energy personality continued into several positions over the years. As a provincial deputy, he voted against the restoration of the
Spanish monarchy. He became president of the
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Zaragoza encouraged the building of high-rises in
Benidorm as he felt it helped more people to see the beaches and feel the sea air. In 2008, Benidorm was home to 330 skyscrapers and attracted over five million visitors.
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Zaragoza was born in
Benidorm to a family of poor seafarers; his father was a merchant captain. He was able to travel around the world as a child with his father seeing Sydney, London, and Singapore. He went to school in
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that had ended in 1939. Zaragoza felt that the town could be turned into a beachside resort that would draw tourists not just from Spain, but from across Europe. In 1950, Benidorm only had 102 hotel rooms.
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Zaragoza died of heart failure on 1 April 2008. The town of
Benidorm observed two days of official mourning for him.
276:. He was chair of the Tourism Commission for 12 years. He completed a law degree in the 1970s, specialising in
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him. Only on the intervention of Franco did the bishops and the
Catholic Church back off from their threat.
199:. At the time Benidorm was a small town without many economic prospects. Spain was still recovering from the
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136:, Spain, from 1950 to 1967. He is credited with helping turn the town into one of the most popular
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He became a one-man spokesman for his town by travelling across Europe to promote
Benidorm. In
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Zaragoza and his wife María Ivars had four children. Their marriage lasted 58 years.
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Skyline of
Benidorm. Zaragoza is credited as the "father of modern Benidorm".
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499:"Fallece Pedro Zaragoza, el ex alcalde que impulsó el Benidorm del turismo"
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anywhere in the town. This prompted some
Catholic bishops to threaten to
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211:, Sweden, he left flowering almond branches in department stores. The
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of Spain, that the country should open to tourists. According to
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The Final Call: Investigating Who Really Pays For Our
Holidays
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In 1952, Zaragoza allowed women to wear the newest fashion of
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Zaragoza was appointed mayor in 1950 at the age of 28 by the
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Flying to the Sun: A History of Britain's Holiday Airlines
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Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past
187:, where he caught the attention of government officials.
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in Spain, creating "Europe's first mass tourist resort."
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He was soon promoted to a position in Madrid at the
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399:"Pedro Zaragoza: Developer of high-rise Benidorm"
215:received local wine that he had sent. He planted
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359:"The man who built Benidorm bows out aged 85"
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280:. At 82, he received a degree in tourism at
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128:(May 15, 1922 – April 1, 2008) was the
185:Spanish Confederation of Savings Banks
219:in the name of famous people such as
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227:, and sent the harvest to them.
615:Members of the Cortes Generales
530:Woodley, Charles (2016-03-07).
410:from the original on 2022-05-25
463:Tremlett, Giles (2008-03-13).
1:
469:. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
357:Keeley, Graham (2008-04-02).
433:Hickman, Leo (2008-09-04).
213:Queen of the United Kingdom
153:to learn nautical studies.
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234:nine hours to advocate to
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536:. The History Press.
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610:People from Benidorm
274:Province of Alicante
323:The Daily Telegraph
282:Alicante University
126:Pedro Zaragoza Orts
23:Pedro Zaragoza Orts
497:EFE (2008-04-01).
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165:Benidorm Town Hall
16:Spanish politician
278:urban development
225:Charles de Gaulle
201:Spanish Civil War
191:Mayor of Benidorm
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230:Zaragoza rode a
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406:. 2008-04-03.
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217:orange trees
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112:Residence(s)
87:(2008-04-01)
72:May 15, 1922
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605:2008 deaths
600:1922 births
99:María Ivars
589:Categories
575:2018-03-30
516:2018-03-30
414:2018-03-30
368:2018-03-30
336:2018-03-30
299:References
144:Early life
68:1922-05-15
511:1134-6582
331:0307-1235
209:Stockholm
151:Barcelona
48:1950–1967
44:In office
33:Mayor of
408:Archived
240:caudillo
134:Benidorm
104:Children
75:Benidorm
35:Benidorm
503:El País
253:bikinis
77:, Spain
37:, Spain
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157:Career
96:Spouse
232:Vespa
130:mayor
538:ISBN
507:ISSN
471:ISBN
441:ISBN
327:ISSN
223:and
82:Died
62:Born
132:of
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