North Portugal Tourism Guide - Aveiro & Ovar

Aveiro Tourist Guide

Aveiro was cut off from the sea when a storm in the 1570s closed the river mouth. The town has had many strings to its commercial bow including seaport, salt production, and seaweed harvesting for fertilizer. The ups and downs of the local economy have had varying effects on the town including the Art Nouveau house and azulejos friezes that were completed in times of prosperity. The town was known to have been in existence since at least the 10th century as Aviarium meaning "a gathering place or preserve of birds" - fittingly the marshes and lagoons at Ria de Aveiro, and sand dunes are nature reserves, home to many species of wildfowl and other wildlife.

The canals are indeed streets on which the traditional brightly coloured boats, barcos moliceiros, glide past. These are lined by what was the city's main trading area with gorgeous Art Nouveau buildings. The old town includes the fish market and azulejo-faced buildings. The town's museum housed in Convento de Jesus on Avenida Santa Joana has exhibits relating to King Afonso's daughter Santa Joana, who lived there from 1475 until her death in 1489. Museu de Aveiro, Av. Sta Joana Princesa, 3810-329 AVEIRO, Email: maveiro@ipmuseus.pt. Open: 10 am-5.30 pm, closed Mondays. Other religious monuments to see include the nearby 15th century Sao Domingos cathedral, the Carmelite Church, decorated with paintings depicting the life of St Teresa and the Igreja de Misericordia, which dates back to the 16th century and whose facade includes blue snowflake tiles. It's a well maintained town with lots of hotels, cafes and restaurants particularly renowned for its seafood restaurants. Local specialities include eels and shellfish from the lagoons and Bairrada wine.

The beaches around Aveiro are north and south of the town itself. These are wide, white sand beaches that whipped into sand dunes by the brisk wind coming off the Atlantic Ocean. Costa Nova is 3 kilometres south of Barra and there are several access points to the long strip of sand between the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. The road into Costa Nova is lined with colourful candy striped buildings and palms that give this area a tropical feel.

Parking can be a nightmare, but you can get here by bus which stops at the wave shaped tourist information office on Avenida Jose Estrevao Gafanha da Encarnacao. (Open Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri, July-mid Sept 10 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm. Weds, Sat and Sun 10 am-8 pm. Tel: 351 234 369 560170. Blue flag beaches include those at Costa Nova and Barra near Ilhavo (both with disabled access), and Esmoriz and Cortegaca at Ovar. Getting around by car gives you the freedom to explore the whole area and car hire for Aveiro is easily organised. Get an online quote by clicking Holiday Autos right.

Around Aveiro - Sao Jacinto Nature Reserve - Ovar

Nearby 8 kilometres north of Aveiro is Ilhavo which has an interesting maritime museum detailing the history of the region's long seafaring tradition with displays of vessels and other nautical equipment. Four kilometres further south lies the Vista Alegre Museum, which traces the history of Vista Alegre porcelain art from and shows its progression and increase in popularity since 1824 to the present day. Centro de Visitas da Vista Alegre, Fbrica de Porcelana da Vista Alegre, SA, Vista Alegre, 3830-296 lhavo, Tel: 351 234 320 600. Fax: 351 234 320 782. E-mail: centro.visitas.va@vaa.pt

Stretching north of Aveiro from Sao Jacinto to Ovar is the 6.7 square kilometre wooded nature reserve, Reserva Natural Sao Jacinto where there are trails and bird hides. Visits are restricted to a maximum two and a half hour visit with entry times into the reserve between 9-9.30 am or between 13.30-2 pm. A guide is often available for a free tour or interpretive materials will help you get the most out of your visit. It is best to book ahead. Interpretive Centre, Reserva Natural das Dunas de S. Jacinto, 3800 S. Jacinto, Tel: 234331282. Email: rndsj@aveiro-digital.net

Ovar, is a good base from which to explore Sao Jacinto and the Ria de Aveiro. This is an attractive market town that still retains some of its rural traditions including one of the most colourful Carnival parades in Portugal. Furadouro 5 kilometres to Ovar's west has another long sandy beach fringed with sand dunes and pines.

Aveiro Football

If you're traveling in and out of Aveiro and you see what looks like a gigantic child's toy, that s Aveiro's football stadium! It is a fantastically different stadium like no other with huge of multicoloured blocks around the outside and a hotch potch of multicoloured seats on the inside. It is a 30,000 capacity stadium home to the town's team SC Beira Mar. Aveiro hosted 3 games of the 2004 European Football Championship.

Estadio Municipal de Aveiro is located in Parque da Cidade, five kilometres north-west from the city centre. If you're driving leave the A1 at junction 16 and follow the IP5 main road in the direction of Aveiro. The stadium is located next to the IP5. The nearest airport is Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport near Porto about 75 kilometres north, easily accessible via the main A1 motorway.