The resort cities of Benicasim and Oropesa del Mar are located in the northern part of Costa del Azahar. The former is a tourist destination that was "invented" by well-to-do families in Valencia at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then rediscovered late in the century for summer vacationing by the major political decision-makers in Madrid. In both resort towns the popular tourist industry of the 1960s triggered a large-scale flow of tourists to the seaside based on the sol y playa System. For the past century this industry has brought about an urban sprawling of rural boroughs-located further inland-towards the seabord. This cumulative urban development of the rural boroughs runs parallel to that of the seaside resorts with their rows of buildings lining the waterfront. With the filling in of spaces between seaside resorts and coastal cities a true urban coastal continuum has emerged.