Vila do Bispo was named the Algarve ‘Municipality of the Year’ thanks to the success of its U35 project – which “studied the actions of Submarine U-35 off Sagres and Lagos on April 24, 1917.”
The national prize, however, went to Guimarães.
The distinctions are attributed by the University of Minho and designed to “acknowledge and award” successful council projects.
“For us it is a cause of great joy to win on a regional level, it’s just a shame we didn’t win nationally as well,” mayor Adelino Soares told Sulinformação news website.
Tourism boss Desidério Silva praised Vila do Bispo’s project for being “different” and “historically symbolic, as it is linked to a World War One event that happened off the coast of Portugal.”
Portimão, Silves and Alcoutim were also in the running for an accolade.
Portimão used the success of its Start Work event – designed to give young people as well as adults a closer look at the Algarve’s business, education and job opportunities, while Silves applied with its “environmental rehabilitation of Herdade de São Bom Homem”, which saw around 5,800 trees planted in areas that had been devastated by wildfires.
Alcoutim’s bid involved its ‘Festival do Contrabando’, launched this year with great success.
“Though these boroughs didn’t win, they deserve acknowledgement for having been selected by the national jury to be among the 35 national nominees,” said Desidério Silva.
