Aveiro

Aveiro is the provincial capital city of Beira Litoral province, nestled next to a ria, (a salt water lagoon) and the Vouga River delta on the Atlantic coast of Central Portugal. Its origins go back to pre-Roman times. From the 8th until the 11th century, the region was under Muslim control. The charter elevating the town to city status was conferred in 1759 by King João I.

Understand


Aveiro (ah-VAY-roo, /ɐ.ˈvɐj.ɾu/) was already a major salt producer in Roman times and continued to be so until the 1970s, mainly due to the age-old salt cod industry. It also played a major role in ceramics, ship building, metal working and machinery manufacture, as well as being a natural shipping port for centuries. Next door to Aveiro, the city of Ílhavo still has remnants of the cod fishing and salt cod industry. A famous porcelain and cut glassware factory was established there in the early 1800s and is still in operation today (guided tours are available).





Aveiro is to the south of Porto and  north of Coimbra, straddling the Ria of Aveiro and the River Vouga a few kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, where you can easily reach by car (5 minutes) or by bus (every hour). The city of Aveiro has a population of approximately 80,880 inhabitants (2021 preliminary), of which 12,500 are students at University of Aveiro, one of the most important Portuguese universities. Aveiro is at the center of the Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Aveiro (Aveiro Regional Intermunicipal Community), encompassing over 370,000 inhabitants.

The late poet, musician and teacher Zeca Afonso and the late physicist Dr. Mário Sacramento are both famous anti-fascist activists from the city. Overall the atmosphere is rather laid back and relaxed while some students are foreigners, lending it a somewhat cosmopolitan feel.

Architecturally, the CBD and "centro histórico" are characterized by some excellent examples of 15/16th century, Belle Epoque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Estado Novo buildings, while parts of the city are intersected by canals with picturesque bridges and navigated by brightly painted boats called moliceiros, similar in profile to the gondolas of Venice. Originally the moliceiro was a working boat and the name derives from moliço, a type of sea weed abundant in the lagoon and formerly harvested to be used as fertilizer in the agricultural fields of the region. Although an exaggeration, the city is called the "Portuguese Venice". The real charm of Aveiro's lifestyle lies in its coast, with its fantastic sandy beaches of São Jacinto, Torreira, Barra and Costa Nova. This local coast is branded as Costa da Prata or the Silver Coast.

Historically, the importance and prestige of Aveiro grew with the arrival in the 15th century, of princess Dna. Joana, daughter of King Afonso V, to join the sisterhood of the Monastery of Jesus. Upon her death, she bequeathed her vast wealth to the benefit of the town. Her intricately carved and decorated tomb in the monastery constitutes a singular example of fine arts of the period. In the 17th century she was canonised, thus becoming Santa Joana. By the 19th century, local parliamentarian José Estevão propelled Aveiro to the fore of industrialization by spearheading the redevelopment of the harbour facilities and city canals and the arrival of the railways, sowing the seeds for an economic boom.

Today however, the best-kept secret of its attraction apart from the extensive soft sand beaches that reach from Mira in the south to Espinho in the north is the relative authenticity and less costly accommodation and food when compared to Alentejo and the Algarve. The summer months of June to August are the busiest with holiday makers. Also, easy access to major road networks and railways make it easy to take day trips to popular destinations such as Porto, Espinho, Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, Viseu and Serra da Estrela. The Beirão people are well known for being hospitable and helpful towards anyone who is polite.

Aveiro has a humid, temperate climate in summer and a not-so-cold but wet weather in winter. November, December and January make up the rainy season, while July and August are the driest months. Autumn and Winter tend to have strong coastal winds, excellent for kite or wind-surfing, as well as for sailing.

Of later times, the primeiro banho do ano or the first sea dip of the year, has become an annual local tradition in the early hours of every New Year's Day with hundreds of participants vying for the T-shirt given to confirm the feat.

By car
The city is connected to highway A1 which is the main north–south axis road of the country, but also a toll road.

You can easily reach Aveiro through highway A17, which is linked to highway A8 from Lisbon and the west–east axis highway A25, linking central Portugal via Vilar Formoso to rest of Europe through Spain.

By bus
And also by the main canal in Rua do Clube dos Galitos near the moliceiro embarking jetty by the Rotunda das Pontes. If confused, just go inside any business near the railway station and ask, Onde é a estação dos autocarros regionais? ("Where's the regional bus station?")

By plane
The "Aeródromo Municipal de Aveiro" is actually the former military airbase of São Jacinto, and is planned revert to civilian use, pending certification. As of May 2018, this has not happened yet, because of bureaucratic minutiae. Its 1,372-metre runway and buildings serve private pilots and house small aircraft and the Aveiro Aeroclube.

On foot
Aveiro is easily navigable on foot. The local bus terminal can be found about 15 minutes walk from the canal zone.

By bicycle
Aveiro is a cyclist friendly city. There are many exclusive cyclist dedicated paths throughout the city and connecting all the way from the city to the beach areas.

A very convenient way to see Aveiro if you like to go cycling but don't have a bicycle, is to use the BUGA (Free-use Bicycles of Aveiro) service. There are 2 BUGA shops (lojas) spread about the city. If there are bicycles available, you simply have to give to the BUGA shop employee your ID and you'll have a bike to take a free ride.

Bikes can be used within a certain BUGA area of the city, delimited by signs. When you are finished with the bike, just return it to the shop (loja) and take your ID back. You have until 19:00 to return your bike to the BUGA shop you took it from, nice, free and easy!

By bus
The city of Aveiro has thirteen bus lines operated by Aveiro Bus, who have no English website. That said, the buses are of little use to tourists as most points of interest are easily within walking distance in Aveiro. However, if you plan to spend your summer holidays in the area and only find accommodation in Aveiro city, it may be worthwhile getting a multi-trip or seasonal bus pass to get to the beaches at a low cost. Transdev Portugal operates longer-distance services. Of note are especially the lines that go from Aveiro to the beaches, including Barra and Costa Nova.

By car
Road traffic in the Aveiro area is relatively easy to negotiate, though you may experience slight delays at rush hours. Street parking spaces are at a premium and metered, but there are some well positioned underground parkades at the Forum and ''Av. Lourenço Peixinho'' near the Great War Combatants Monument. Generally, access to major national roads is well signposted, but outside the city limits, driving on municipal/local roads may require a map. In the summer, beach traffic can grind things to a near standstill.

Aveiro has several car rental agencies. The best policy is to prearrange everything via internet before arrival, including insurance, as this will save you a lot of money.

Do

 * Surf at Costa Nova and Barra Beach - You can rent a wetsuit and a board on local surf shops.
 * Windsurf and Kytesurf on the river and on the sea - You can rent this material on local windsurf shops.
 * Moliceiro tours - leaving from the central canal.
 * Salt pans and bird watching tours at the Special Protection Zone of Ria de Aveiro, for a chance to meet the salt worker Marnoto in person and spot the many bird species that inhabit the lagoon. geral@salinasaveiro.com@undefined
 * Sailing at Costa Nova Beach - There's a local Sailing club - CVCN - where you can find sailing lessons.
 * Kayak at Ria de Aveiro or Rio Vouga - It is quite easy to find local guides that takes you for a different afternoon experience.
 * Walking tours - There is a local walking tour shop that has 3 way-outs every day.
 * Take some sun at Costa Nova and Barra Beach
 * Take some sun at Costa Nova and Barra Beach

Regional products

 * Ovos moles and Pão de ló - These two sweet tooth musts are widely sold at most pastelarias and cafés in the city.
 * Salt from Aveiro is sold at the EcoMuseu Marinha da Troncalhada by the salt pans and some regional products shops.
 * Souvenirs - A variety of local themed miniatures like boats, dolls, and other objects are available throughout shops in the old city center.
 * Vista Alegre - Famous tableware ceramics and cut glass factory. Prices range from affordable to high end and items can be purchased at the factory shop, while tours inside are possible upon request. The Vista Alegre factory and workers village is in the neighboring municipality of Ilhavo, 10 km away.

Shopping venues

 * Rua dos Combatentes da Guerra and Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho are the main shopping streets in downtown CBD.
 * Rua dos Combatentes da Guerra and Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho are the main shopping streets in downtown CBD.
 * Rua dos Combatentes da Guerra and Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho are the main shopping streets in downtown CBD.
 * Rua dos Combatentes da Guerra and Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho are the main shopping streets in downtown CBD.
 * Rua dos Combatentes da Guerra and Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho are the main shopping streets in downtown CBD.

Eat

 * Ovos moles - A traditional sweet speciality made from egg yolk. Sold at most of the local bakeries.
 *  Pão de Ló - A traditional baked cake available in several "pastelaria" establishments throughout the city.

The city is doted with many eating places ranging from local inexpensive "snack-bars", "pastelarias" and small neighbourhood restaurants to fancy and upmarket eateries. The Forum and Glicīnias shopping centres have food courts serviced by various cheap to reasonable priced fast food outlets specialising in different types of cuisine. Some global fast food brands are also available. The area with the most restaurants is found between the Old Neighborhood (Bairro Antigo) and the fish market plaza (Mercado do Peixe). There are also some decent restaurants and seafood places at Barra, Costa Nova and Vagueira.

Drink
The most famous area for night bars is Praça do Peixe (fish plaza).Here you will find a good variety of bars typically open til 03:00 in winter, and 04:00 in summer. Note that all the bars in Praça do Peixe have free entrance. Clubs are best on Friday and Saturday nights from 01:00 to 05:00. Women usually pay no admission fees, but for men it is usually around €5. Drinks are fairly cheap, around €4 or €5. Try a caipirinha with strawberries (morangos).



Nightlife
As a result of Aveiro University founding in the 1970s, Aveiro's nightlife has developed an eclectic and colourful mix of establishments to rival the best nationwide. Centered around areas like, Praça do Peixe, Alboi, Rossio and the Zona dos Armazéns de Sal (the salt warehouses zone) alongside the Canal de São Roque, with affordable night-clubs, bars, snack-bars, restaurants, discothèques, pubs and the red light district not far away. DJs, bands and solo acts provide all types of good live music from a wide range of establishments. Praia da Barra has plenty to choose throughout the area with some establishments on the beach itself. If summer is hot, the night-clubs are hotter. Be prepared to burn the midnight oil and dig the graveyard shift all rolled into one. Turn your ear to the wind and follow the sounds. The club partying usually starts around 23:00 and lasts 'til 06:00 or 07:00.



Budget
If you are a camping or caravanning holiday maker, the Barra and Costa Nova camping grounds are a short walking distance to the beach, offer well serviced secure plots with controlled access. Summer season rates are costlier and may require advance booking.

Go next
The best kept secrets are the extensive soft sand beaches that reach from Mira in the south to Espinho in the north, coupled with the less costly accommodation and food when compared with further south Portugal and the Algarve, this unique environment tucked between the Ria and the Atlantic has well kept amenities to do water sports, sunbathe, swim, enjoy fresh fish, and seafood meals, bicycle or stroll along and watch wonderful summer sunsets from Costa Nova and Praia da Barra with its imposing lighthouse dominating the horizon or take the ferry boat across the Ria to explore the São Jacinto dunes and Torreira beach town.

Further inland, one can also enjoy a short trips to local towns and villages that have quite a bit to offer in terms of authentic local gastronomy and sightseeing outside the usual "tourist trap" offerings in major centers. Go to Angeja, to savour their special enguias (eel dishes) or rojões (tender and lean pork chunky cutlets), or Anadia among others and Bairrada, with their wines and leitāo assado (roasted piglet). These trips can also be done by using several regional bus services based not too far from Aveiro railway station.


 * Coimbra — home to Portugal's oldest and most prestigious university
 * Fátima — Catholic pilgrimage sight known for its 1917 Virgin Mary apparitions
 * Figueira da Foz — popular oceanside beaches
 * Luso — spa town in Mealhada municipality
 * Porto — Portugal's second metropolis
 * Serra do Buçaco – a mountain range in Mealhada, Mortágua, Penacova municipalities
 * Viseu — charming hilltop city in Beira Alta province