Vila do Bispo City Council will inaugurate the Ecovia and Ciclovia da Costa Vicentina on January 18th, a project considered structural for the municipalities of Vila do Bispo and Aljezur. This new infrastructure stands out both for its positive impact on mobility and for increasing the attractiveness of the territory, being a driver of sustainable development and tourism linked to the valorization of natural heritage.
“This is a structuring project for the municipalities of Vila do Bispo and Aljezur, both from the point of view of mobility and the attractiveness of the territory, constituting a driver for the sustainable development of these municipalities and a tourist offer based on the valorization of heritage natural environment, enhancing the attractiveness of the territory”, highlights the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) in a statement.
The project integrates a network of eco-paths and cycle paths that connect Vila do Bispo to Aljezur, allowing users to enjoy the unique natural landscapes of these municipalities. The main objective is to value the territory through the promotion of natural and cultural heritage, encouraging sustainable mobility between locations along the Costa Vicentina and promoting contact with nature in the Natural Park of Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. This infrastructure also contributes to the development of the “Cycling & Walking” tourism product.
According to , “the 91.63 km in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, belonging to the Ecovia da Costa Vicentina, which connects Alentejo (in Ribeira de Odeceixe) to Sagres, are currently completed. The 16.94 km of Aljezur remains to be completed, which in total makes up a total length of 108.57 km”.
The CRESC Algarve 2020 Operational Program financed a significant part of the construction of the three Algarve Regional Cycle Paths, with an investment of approximately six million euros, with a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of 4.4 million euros.
The three regional cycle paths planned for the Algarve are the Ecovia/Ciclovia do Litoral Sul, the Ecovia/Ciclovia da Costa Vicentina and the Ecovia/Ciclovia da Rota do Guadiana. These routes connect Odeceixe to Sagres, Sagres to Vila Real de Santo António and, finally, the latter to Alcoutim.
These regional cycle path networks are integrated into international networks and complement the urban cycle network, connecting the main urban centers in the Algarve. They are designed to meet the needs of daily travel, namely to school and work, but also for commercial, leisure activities and other purposes.
The Ecovia/Ciclovia da Costa Vicentina is part of the EuroVelo European Cycle Route Network, dedicated to cycle tourism throughout Europe. This network, made up of 14 long-distance routes, crosses 42 countries, with a total of 70,000 km, and is also a sustainable alternative for daily mobility and local leisure.
“Under the previous CRESC Algarve 2020 program, 74 km of the approximately 250 total km were completed, which represents approximately 1/3 of the total route, with the remainder expected to be fully executed during the duration of the current ALGARVE Regional Program 2030”, highlights CCDR Algarve.
In the municipality of Vila do Bispo it comprises “a total length of 24 km, divided into 3 sections (Limit of the Municipality of Aljezur/Vila do Bispo – Praia da Cordoama; Praia da Cordoama – EN268); and Cabo de S. Vicente – Sagres. In Aljezur, it comprises a length of 60 km, divided into 13 sections between Odeceixe and the limit of the Municipality of Vila de Bispo (EN 268)”, he adds.
Altogether, this is a total cost of 2.6 million euros, with an eligible investment of 1.9 million euros, 70% reimbursed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
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