Algarve has 98 beaches with "Gold Quality"

This year, Algarve has 98 beaches with "Gold Quality", classified by Quercus based on the information provided by the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA).

As in previous years, Quercus - the National Association for the Conservation of Nature identifies, in accordance with criteria established by the Association itself, bathing waters in Portugal as having "Gold Quality", taking into account only the analyzes carried out in the laboratories of the different Regional Hydrographic Administrations.

For the 2018 bathing season, Quercus thus identifies 390 beaches with "Gold Quality" in mainland Portugal - 6 fewer than 2017 - in a total of 640 beaches. Of the beaches identified, 342 are coastal beaches, 39 are inland beaches and 9 are transitional.

Compared to 2017, there are at least 9 award-winning coastal beaches, there are 3 more inland beaches and an equal number of transitional.

The county with the highest number of beaches with "Gold Quality" is Albufeira with 22, followed by Almada with 17, Vila Nova de Gaia with 16, Vila do Bispo with 13, and Torres Vedras with 12.

In total, Algarve has 98 award-winning bathing areas (22 in Albufeira, 8 in Aljezur, 3 in Castro Marim, 4 in Faro, 10 in Lagoa, 5 in Lagos, 10 in Loulé, 3 in Olhão, 8 in Portimão, 3 in Silves, 4 in Tavira, 13 in Vila do Bispo and 5 in Vila Real de Santo António).

Alentejo has 23 award-winning beaches: 10 in Grândola, 7 in Odemira and 6 in Sines.

With this initiative, the aim of Quercus is to highlight the beaches which, over a number of years (five in this case), have consistently presented excellent bathing water (taking into account the classification of existing legislation) and in that sense, therefore offer greater reliability with regards to water quality '.

All the National Municipalities, with award-winning beaches, can request the printing of the respective flag "Beach with Gold Quality", through the general contacts of Quercus.

To see the full list of award-winning beaches, click here.