Algarve continues to be the Portuguese region with more blue flags

Algarve continues to be the Portuguese region with more blue flags, the European indication for beaches of Excellence

Algarve continues to be the Portuguese region with more blue flags, the European indication for beaches of Excellence

The blue flag Programme is the most important environmental certification that a beach can conquer in the world. Created in 1987, the label is awarded by the Danish Foundation for Environmental Education – Fee (Foundation for environmental education), an entity accredited by the UN and Unesco to assess bathing beaches and marinas worldwide.

The Algarve has a total of 88 blue flags in 2019, totaling 84 beaches and four marinas awarded in 13 counties, the Blue Flag Association of Europe has announced today.
The Algarve region continues to be the most awarded zone of the country, although exhibit 1 less than in 2018, after the beach of Pintadinho in Lagoa had lost its distinction.

In addition to the 84 distinguished bathing areas, the marines Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira and Vilamoura also received the award.
Albufeira is the county with more distinctions, a total of 24, followed by Loulé, includes Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago and Vila do Bispo, both with 11.

Algarve continues to be the Portuguese region with more blue flags, the European indication for beaches of Excellence

Blue Flag

Over the next few months, 125 environmental education activities will take place in the 88 award-winning areas. The Algarve also has two Blue Centers in Faro and Loulé.
In 2019, the challenge of the Blue Flag Program is to “continue to raise awareness of the fact that marine litter originates from terrestrial activities, the consequences of human behavior and the role of rivers as a bridge between land and sea.”

“The path goes through environmental education and the adoption of more rational and efficient behaviors in the use of resources. An education for conservation, protection and better management, which begins in our rivers and ends at sea. An education by a low-carbon society, “says the ABAE.

Algarve Events – February

The 45th Tour of the Algarve by Bicycle. Algarve Events - February

Algarve Events – February

Algarve Events: The February edition of Guia Algarve is covered with cycling, ballet, and Algarvia’s juicy orange. Guia Algarve is a publication which suggests more than 100 events covering February; the shortest month of the year in the region.

The guide of the Tourism Region of Algarve stated: “Among the music, theater, exhibitions sports fair and dance and suggestions of the program; 365 Algarve, any cultural excuse is good to go from door to door, among the friends or even alone.”

The 45th Tour of the Algarve by bicycle” is the most prominent item, from 20th to 24th of February, which fills the roads with the winners of the 2018 world, European, and Portuguese rankings tournaments.

On Saturday, 2nd Feb. The Ballet Carmen will be staged on Teatro das Figuras in Faro. Carmen’s music is composed by Georges Bizet and Español de Murcia will interpret it. This story describes the relationship between a sergeant Don Jose and a Gypsy Carmen.
Faro nearby golf courses: Quinta do Lago North, South & Laranjal

Orange Capital, Silves, makes the Algarve’s protagonist. It will be the 3rd municipality exhibition. It will last between 15 to 17 February on the famous points of the city. Along with musical entertainment by Cuca Rosetta (15th Feb. at 21:30), António Zambujo (16th Feb. at 21:30) and Fole’Percussion (17th Feb. at 16:30), there will be exhibitions from people from different fields like citriculture, agriculture, confectionery, gastronomy, and handicrafts.
Silves nearby golf courses: Silves

Cuca Roseta

Cuca Rosetta

The month starts with ”Confessions Tour” by singer Aurea, On 1st of Feb, at 9:30 pm, in the municipal auditorium of Lagoa.
Lagoa nearby golf courses: Gramacho, Vale da Pinta.

Kátia Guerreiro, a fado singer will also perform live on her new album named ”Semper” on Saturday, 2nd Feb, at the Cultural Center of Lagos, at 9:30 pm.
Lagos nearby golf courses: Palmares, Penina Championship, Morgado, Alamos.

The month follows with other records, in other tones, for different musical tastes. First of all, with the performance of Daniel Kemish at the Lethes Theater in Faro (2nd Feb, 9:30 p.m.), with the V International Festival of Baroque Music in Faro, from 2 to 23 February in various places of the county (beginning at 21: 30), with the Chinese opera “The Generals of the Yang Family”, will be performed on 11th of Feb. at 9:30 pm, at the Arade Congress Center (Lagoa), with the 18th Al-Mutamid Music Festival, 8-23 Silves, Loulé, Lagos, Albufeira and Olhão, at 21:30.

On the stage of the performance, drama ”Waning Room” brings together seven characters united by a common stalemate: the desire for change without however changing for fear of the new. Will be held at - Teatro Municipal de Portimão on Saturday, 2 at 9:30 p.m.
Hotels in Portimão: Tivoli Marina Portimão, Penina Hotel Golf & Resort, Pestana Alvor Atlântico.

Among the 15 exhibitions, attention turned to ”Symbolus” by Sofia Baptista, in the municipal gallery João Bailote, in Albufeira, in which the artist traverses the symbols of values and personal origins through painting.
Hotels in Albufeira: Real Bellavista Hotel & Spa, NAU Salgados Palace Hotel, Muthu Oura Praia.
Golf Courses nerby Albufeira: Salgados, Pine Cliffs

Symbolus by Sofia Baptista

“Symbolus” by Sofia Baptista

On the other hand, from February 9 to 17, the Chocolate Week takes place in the Municipal Market of Loulé, to sweeten the gourmand visitors of the Algarve.
Hotels nearby Loulé, in Vilamoura: Dom Pedro Vilamoura, Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, Vila Galé Ampalius, Crowne Plaza Vilamoura, Hilton Vilamoura Hotel.
Golf Courses nerby: Pinhal, Laguna, Millennium, Victoria, Old Course, Vila Sol.

And for lovers of outdoor activities, the «Guia Algarve» highlights the Biennial of Nature Tourism, from 22nd to 24th February, in the Multipurpose Hall of Aljezur, with the motto of sustainable tourism.

Time for the unique experiences of the cultural program «365 Algarve», with several premieres to mention. On the first day of the month, the DeVIR Meetings begin, with the international collective exhibition «Le Dessin de Presse dans Tous ses États (Part 1)», in the former Town Hall of Lagos.

On the 5th of February, at 9:30 pm, Cine-Teatro Louletano “Elastic” will open a crossroads of theater and music from a collection of poems by Algarvian authors that mix with the text of Sarah Lemmonnier and João de Brito.

And, the signature of 365 Algarve, the International Piano Festival of the Algarve will take Antonio Rosado to play “West Side Story” (9th Feb. at 9:30 pm) and Pedro Burmester to revisit the Fantasia Choral Fantasia for piano, choir and Beethoven’s Orchestra (16th Feb. at 9:30 pm, at the Teatro das Figuras in Faro).

Algarve hotels win at the World Luxury Hotel Awards

Algarve hotels win at the World Luxury Hotel Awards. Epic Sana Algarve

World Luxury Hotel Awards

Four Algarve hotels were awarded in the 2018 edition of the World Luxury Hotel Awards, highlighting the Hotel Faro & Beach Club, distinguished in two categories.

The hotel which is located in the downtown area of the Algarve received the “Luxury Rooftop View Hotel” and “Luxury Harbor Hotel” awards, both continental.

Hotel Faro & Beach Club

Hotel Faro & Beach Club

The Municipality of Faro has already reacted to the news, affirming its “pride” for the distinction and congratulating itself for the rise of overnight stays in Faro in recent years: in 2017, there were 520 thousand overnight stays, compared to 428,475 overnight stays the previous year.

Also at the European level, two Albufeira hotels were distinguished: the Pine Cliffs in the category “Luxury Ocean View Resort” and the Epic SANA Algarve in the “Luxury Coastal Hotel” category.

Pine Cliffs Hotel Luxury Resort & Spa

Pine Cliffs Hotel Luxury Resort & Spa

At the regional level (southern Europe), the Dunas Douradas Beach Club in Vale do Lobo, Loulé, was awarded in the category «Luxury Beach Resort».

The World Luxury Hotel Awards, which began in 2006, distinguish luxury hotels worldwide in about 100 categories, according to votes from customers and industry leaders.

The awards ceremony for the 12th edition of this world competition took place on 10 November in Bali, Indonesia.