Galicia's A Calzada River Beach Wins Blue Flag as Coastal Rental Prices Diverge

The river beach A Calzada in the municipality of Ponte Caldelas, Galicia, has been awarded a Blue Flag – the first Spanish river beach to receive the international quality label. The natural 250‑metre pool draws water from the Verdugo River and offers lifeguard services, a bar, playgrounds, volleyball courts and designated areas for adults, children and pets. Regular water‑quality tests certify its suitability for bathing, making it a benchmark for river‑bank recreation in Spain.

A separate analysis of coastal housing in Galicia shows large disparities in rental costs. In the town of Narón, an 80‑square‑metre apartment rents for an average of €622 per month, making it the second‑cheapest seaside market in Spain. At the opposite end, Sanxenxo commands €1,352 for the same size, more than double the Narón rate. Other municipalities fall between these extremes, with average prices ranging from €7.78 to €16.90 per square metre. The study links rising rents to growing tourist demand, limited housing supply and the broader pressure on Spain's coastal rental markets.