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Situated between the cities of Porto and Lisbon, Aveiro is known for its canals and moliceiros (boats) to which it owes its nickname of Portuguese Venice. It is also known for its architecture, which you should not forget to admire while you are there. Connected to the train networks of Northern Portugal, this colourful little town is easily accessible from Porto or Coimbra. The town is not very big, you can visit the town of Aveiro while passing by the Costa Nova beach in just one or two days.
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The moliceiros, boats with beautiful, brightly coloured paintings, will take you on a tour of the city as you navigate through the different canals. Their paintings depict everyday situations. Today a tourist attraction, they were once used to collect seaweed from the bottom of the lagoon. Departures for the moliceiro tours are made along the canals. You will find several stands offering different times and prices around 10€ per person, for a 45-minute tour. This is an original way to visit the city that is not to be missed.
Listed as an Art Nouveau museum town, the town is a must for Art Nouveau lovers. Art Nouveau is characterised by its representation of elements of nature. It is one of the 20 cities that make up the Art Nouveau Network in the world, which underlines the importance of its artistic heritage. Many building façades display decorations of this style on tiles or mouldings. Here are some of the places to see if you are interested. There are also guided tours on this theme.
As in many Portuguese cities, you will be able to see the famous Portuguese azulejos (tiles) on the facades of buildings. For example, Aveiro station (Estação De Comboios De Aveiro) is the place you will arrive if you come from Porto or Coimbra by train. Comboios being the railway company of Portugal. This white building is decorated with blue azulejos that depict the history of the city through landscapes and typical characters of the region.
You can head to the coast to admire the small, colourful, striped huts on the Costa Nova beach. The palheiros, small seaside huts where fishermen used to store their gear, are nowadays dwellings that have been passed down from generation to generation. This picture postcard image is well known to tourists but does not border the town of Aveiro, which has no beach, but the town of Costa Nova. However, it is close to the small fishing town and can be reached from Aveiro by taking a bus from the town centre or by car. The bus stop is located in the rua do Clube dos Galitos, you will reach the destination in about 20 minutes by bus compared to about 10 minutes by car. For a stay of 2 days you can book your night in a villa for example.
In terms of gastronomy, you will find the city's emblematic pastry made from egg yolk and sugar, the ovos moles (translated as soft eggs). Born in Aveiro, they are available in shops and pastry shops all over the country and in various forms. In fact, in order to underline Aveiro's connection with the ocean, they come in the form of fish, shells or barrels. It is the first Portuguese pastry to be included in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications. The city's restaurants offer other specialities of Portuguese gastronomy as well as fish.
Another speciality of the city: salt. The city is bordered by the Ria de Aveiro and salt lagoons, which makes it a good place for salt harvesting. Used for gastronomic, cosmetic and even therapeutic purposes, salt is very present in the city. It can be found as sea salt or flower of salt. Salt was a major trade at the time. You can book a guided tour in one of these saltworks or go to the Marinha Da Troncadlhada ecomuseum and walk along the marshes and read the information panels on the harvest and the salt trades . If you want to see the harvest, which is still done by hand, it is mostly done from June to September.
>>> Do not hesitate to book your villa in Portugal.
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