Viana do Castelo has 10 beaches considered “Gold Quality” by Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation, in a guarantee of excellent quality for the 2024 bathing season. Thus, the beaches of Afife were awarded the gold flag , Arda, Paçô, Carreço, Norte, Cabedelo, Luziamar, Amorosa north, Amorosa south and Castelo do Neiva.
For the bathing season that is about to start, Viana do Castelo had already won 11 Blue Flags, a distinction awarded by the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education (ABAEE). In the Viennese municipality, the beaches awarded the blue flag are Ínsua, Afife, Arda, Paçô, Carreço, Norte, Cabedelo, Luziamar, Amorosa Norte, Amorosa Sul and Castelo do Neiva. The novelty is the award given to Amorosa Sul beach, a commitment from the Municipality, which decided to nominate this beach again, continuing the objective of progressively increasing the quality and distinction of the various beaches in this municipality.
To receive the “Beach with Gold Quality” classification, bathing water must meet the following criteria: “excellent” water quality in the annual classification of the five bathing seasons prior to the last one (in this case, between 2018 and 2022); all analyzes carried out in the last bathing season (2023) must have presented better results for the following bacterial indicators compared to the values defined for the 95th percentile of Annex I of the Bathing Water Directive; In the last bathing season (2023), there must not have been any type of occurrence/notice advising against bathing, banning bathing and/or temporarily closing the beach.
Source: cm-viana-castelo.pt