The reopening of the ocean pool at Praia das Azenhas do Mar returned one of the most popular places on the Sintra coast to bathers, after several months of forced closure due to structural problems. The space has now returned to receiving visitors after completion of improvement works and implementation of corrective measures.
According to , the ban had been enacted in September last year, after technical inspections identified several safety risks associated with the use of the ocean pool located close to the cliff.
Reopening awaited for several months
The decision to lift the ban came at the beginning of last week, after the conclusion of the interventions considered necessary by the authorities. According to the same source, the works made it possible to reduce previously identified risks and create conditions for the return of bathing in that space.
During the closure period, the pool remained completely closed to the public. The structure, known for its unique location over the ocean, is one of the most recognized images of the village of Azenhas do Mar.
Problems that led to closure
Inspections carried out last year detected several anomalies considered serious. These included problems with the drainage system, degradation of access stairs and the absence of protective barriers in some areas of the pier.
The newspaper writes that failures related to the maintenance and conservation of support structures were also identified. One of the aspects considered most worrying was the risk associated with the drainage system without adequate protection, a situation that could pose a danger to users.
Increasingly sought after village
While the pool was closed, Azenhas do Mar continued to attract attention outside of Portugal. The coastal town in the municipality of Sintra was recently highlighted by the North American magazine Travel and Leisure, which dedicated a report focusing on the landscape and location on the cliff.
According to Travel and Leisure, the location was described as a Portuguese “hidden gem”. The publication highlights the combination between the white houses, the ocean and the peaceful environment of the village located less than an hour from Lisbon.
Allure of the pool by the sea
The ocean pool appears as one of the main points of interest highlighted by the international magazine. According to the same source, the space becomes one of the great attractions during warmer days and calmer seas.
The publication also mentions that the natural pool, built close to the base of the cliff, has become a frequently sought after location for foreign visitors. When the tide rises, adds the same source, the space practically disappears under the impact of the Atlantic waves.
Works to ensure safety
The interventions carried out aimed to solve problems that had already been identified previously. According to Jornal de Mafra, some corrective measures had already been applied in the past, but the risks continued to justify concern. Among the works carried out were improvements to access areas, reinforcement of safety conditions and structural interventions designed to allow the reopening of the pool in conditions considered appropriate by the responsible authorities.
Azenhas do Mar continues to be one of the most photographed places on the Portuguese coast, mainly due to the arrangement of the houses on the cliff and the direct connection to the sea. The ocean pool has gained additional notoriety in recent years through social media and international tourism publications. The combination of the cliff, the ocean and the natural pool helps to reinforce the growing interest of foreign visitors in the location, especially during the summer months.
Return from cliff diving
With the lifting of the ban, the expectation is that the pool will quickly return to receiving a large number of visitors over the next few weeks. The reopening takes place at a time when the village once again enters the circuit of the most popular coastal destinations in the Sintra region.
After nine months closed, the space is now back in operation at a stage in which Azenhas do Mar continues to gain international recognition, driven both by the landscape and by the uniqueness of the pool nestled between the ocean and the cliff.
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