Bikinis and Benidorm

A monument in Benidorm, Spain, stands as a testament to the bikini, a garment that once ignited a moral outcry in the strictly Catholic nation. The large cross at the Mirador de la Cruz viewpoint overlooks the Costa Blanca's sunbathers, many of whom may not realize the swimwear they wear so casually has its own memorial.

The cross serves as both a religious symbol and a beacon of morality, recalling the backlash against new beach attire trends that erupted in the 1960s. Bikinis, first introduced to the public in 1946, made their way to Benidorm just a few years later as the town began its transformation into a global resort destination.

As Northern Europeans discovered the allure of Spain's sunny eastern and southern coasts, they brought with them the simple human desire to wear bikinis on the beach. However, this clashed with the conservative values prevalent in Spain at the time, leading to significant public disapproval.