Hands Off Arrábida: privatization of five beaches

Since July 2025, a lawsuit (case 4833/25.7T8STB) has been running in the Judicial Court of Setúbal, filed by Palácio da Comenda, S.A., current holder of the Quinta Herdade da Comenda estate, against the Portuguese State and the Portuguese Environment Agency. The company claims private ownership of five beaches, a municipal road and the Comenda picnic park: the beaches of Rasca, Comenda, Rainha, Maria Esguelha and Albarquel.

The "Deslarrrguem a Arrábida!" movement brought together hundreds of people for a march between Setúbal and the Comenda Recreation Park, in protest against the attempted private appropriation and against restrictions on public access to the area.

The petition delivered to Parliament has passed 12,500 signatures and will be debated in Parliament. The Government and Setúbal City Council have publicly reaffirmed that the beaches are public, trusting the courts to stop the process.