Category: Nature > Beach
District: Faro > Castro Marim > Praia Verde > Casas da Audiência
Praia Verde is located in the municipality of Castro Marim, in the southeast Algarve, near the border with Spain. It is integrated into a sensitive and protected area, part of the Natura 2000 Network, in the zone identified as Ria Formosa/Castro Marim.
Access from the urbanized area is via a slightly elevated zone, which provides, before reaching the sandy beach, a wide perspective over the beach and the surrounding coastline, extending along the bay.
The name "Praia Verde" (Green Beach) originates from the extensive pine forest of stone pines that embraces it. This green mantle stretches from the urbanization to the coastline, creating a remarkable contrast with the golden sand.
When crossing the pine forest area towards the sea, it is common to smell the characteristic aroma of the trees. The area includes a well-preserved dune system, which serves as a habitat for various local flora and fauna species, such as the European Beachgrass, the Strawflower, the Sand Daffodil, and even the Chameleon, a symbol of Algarvean biodiversity.
Praia Verde's sand is known for its extent and its light, fine color. At low tide, small lagoons and water mirrors sometimes form in the area closest to the dune, becoming play areas for children.
The waters of Praia Verde are generally calm, with gentle waves, and tend to have a mild temperature. The clarity of the water is one of its appreciated characteristics. Wooden walkways help traverse the area, protecting the dune vegetation and facilitating access to the sandy beach from the pine forest area.
Praia Verde is one of the Algarvean beaches recognized for its environmental quality and the safety it offers. Over the years, it has been distinguished with awards such as the Blue Flag, which certifies the quality of its bathing waters and the environmental management of the site.
It also receives the Gold Quality award for bathing waters, attesting to the consistent excellence of its water. It is also recognized as an 'Accessible Beach', indicating the existence of conditions that facilitate access and use by people with reduced mobility, and sometimes as a 'Zero Pollution Beach', reinforcing its good state of conservation.
In the Praia Verde area, there are some vestiges of ancient constructions from the early 20th century. For some time, a popular legend incorrectly identified them as Roman ruins, but historical studies confirmed their more recent origin.
Another story, passed down by older inhabitants, speaks of the sea's advance over the centuries, which would have 'eaten' part of the land and destroyed a small settlement that existed closer to the coast than it currently does. As physical evidence, the elevated position of an old well in the area is pointed out, whose mouth is visibly above the current sand level, a possible testimony to the transformations suffered by the coastline.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.1737356,-7.4801557
Coordinates DMS: 37°10'25.4"N 07°28'48.6"W
Weather Praia Verde
On-duty Pharmacy Praia Verde
