Quinta do Martelo – Ethnographic and Gastronomic Center received the international “Green Key” award for the 19th consecutive time. The rural tourism site, located in the parish of São Mateus, is the only venture in Portugal to have been distinguished in every edition of this award.
“The organization’s requirements for awarding this prize are many and involve additional costs for the tourist facilities participating in this quality assessment,” said the founder and owner of the site, Gilberto Vieira, quoted in a press release.
The entrepreneur stressed that Quinta do Martelo continues to bear the costs and respond positively to the requirements, not only “because they fit in with the spirit of constant enhancement of the space itself, but also because holding this award for 19 consecutive years is a distinguishing feature in tourism in the Azores.”

The Green Key is an international distinction that highlights good environmental practices, particularly in the areas of energy and environmental education, sustainable tourism, and the sociocultural authenticity of host territories, thereby preserving their cultural identity.
According to Gilberto Vieira, these were the values that guided the founding of Quinta do Martelo almost 40 years ago.
Long before the prospect of any award recognizing its efforts to “enhance the environment and the way of life of the surrounding population,” Quinta do Martelo was already striving for them, Gilberto Vieira pointed out, arguing that it is not easy to achieve the level of excellence required to win this distinction year after year.

In Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.