The Aveiro “Ria” began to form during the 15th century when the shoreline moved back and left behind sandpits along an area of eleven thousand hectares, creating a lagoon.

These waters, classified as a protected area, shelters many species such as lamprey clams, storks, herons and some birds of prey or mammals like otters.

The Ria of Aveiro is the ideal spot for bird watching activities, a much sought out destination for birdwatchers worldwide.

The moliceiros were boats used in the 19th century, for the purpose of seaweed harvesting (moliço). Which, after being laid down in threshing floors to dry, were used as a fertiliser and incorporated into the sandy soils of the local farms.

Small and colourful, the moliceiros sail through the “Ria”, painted in the bow and the stern with traditional bright coloured drawings which represent historical facts or popular devotion.

An excellent tour option to learn about the history and traditions of Aveiro.

Aveiro is a member of the “Réseau Art Nouveau Network”, along with Barcelona, Brussels, Budapest, Glasgow, Helsinki or Havana.

Wander through the streets and discover the charm of this delicate and seductive art

Where the most international Portuguese porcelain is being made for more than 200 years.

This complex includes not only the factory and residential quarters for the workers but also a 17th-century palace, a chapel and its own theatre.

This museum aims to show the factory’s history, the aesthetic evolution of porcelain production and its importance in Portuguese society in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries through one of the most complete collections with more than 30,000 pieces.

The University of Aveiro was created in 1973 and is considered one of Portugal’s most dynamic and innovative universities, attracting thousands of students to the city.

A true museum to outdoor contemporary Portuguese architecture where you will find buildings designed by Siza Vieira, Souto Moura, Alcino Soutinho, Carrilho da Graça and Gonçalo Byrne.

This beach is distinctive for its wooden houses painted with stripes of white and bright colours, which used to be sheds and shelters for the fishermen.

Towards the end of the 19th century, when it became fashionable to bathe in the sea, the local fishermen began to rent out their houses in the summer season. The idea then arose to paint the outside panels of these wooden houses in bright colours.

The Barra Lighthouse, the highest in Portugal, stands tall and imposing, with a height of 62m

On Wednesdays, you may climb its 271 steps and get a panoramic view over the ria, Barra Beach, Costa Nova, Aveiro and the communities of São Jacinto and Gafanhas.

This Museum was awarded in 2003 the Mies van der Rohe Prize for Architecture and considered by ArchDaily as one of the top 20 most spectacular museums in the world. Ílhavo Maritime Museum was designed by the architects Nuno Mateus and José Mateus – Gabinete ARX.

Apart from its architectural relevance, Ílhavo’s Maritime Museum has 3 main rooms: the Ria Room, where you can observe the traditional boats of the region; the Codfish Fishing room with a live replica of a boat used in codfish fishing in the ice-cold North-European seas and a room devoted to local people, deeply related to the sea life.

You must visit the brand new Codfish Aquarium and see several codfish species swimming around. It is the first in the country and the ideal place to observe this interesting species with a closer look.

Salt production has always played a major role in the economy of the Aveiro region. The Romans were the first to begin this trade here in 959. What used to be a thriving economic activity has somehow decreased in the last years. Only a few salt ponds have remained. There you may learn and see the process of salt extraction as well as buy it in its purest state

Speak to the marnotos (a person who works in the salt ponds), a profession older than this country itself and learn the importance the salt had in the preservation of the so Portuguese delicatessen, the codfish

The S. Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve accommodates important bird concentrations, especially in autumn and winter.

Walk through the woods and appreciate the efforts made to consolidate the dunes and enrich the lands with the use of aquatic plants from the Ria (moliço) as fertilisers and skilful combinations of vegetation

The Aveiro walkways cover an area of ​​approximately 7 km along the Ria de Aveiro.

A perfect place for nature walks through marshes, dunes and a vast variety of species. If Birdwatching is one of your hobbies, then an evening stroll is sure to please you.

Along the way, you will find information panels on the flora and fauna of the Ria. Benches scattered along the route allow you to rest and read the inscribed phrases, acquainting you with the words or terminology of the region.

An enjoyable walk for the whole family with a low degree of difficulty as the route is flat and mostly along walkways.

There are those who start the route at the Cais de S Roque, a short distance from the Aveiro railway station and follow the 2 km to the Cais da Ribeira de Esgueira. However, the next 5 km to Vilarinho are certainly more interesting.

This route, not being circular, implies that you will have to retrace your steps to get back to the starting point.

Ovos Moles

A  local delicacy made of egg yolks and sugar, created by nuns. The nuns used the egg whites to starch their habits. With the leftover egg yolks, they started to make various sweets, including the delicious Ovos Moles. This mixture is often put inside of small rice paper casings or wafers in nautical shapes such as shells, fishes or barrels

Raivas

Of convent origin, these biscuits are a classic of Portuguese confectionery with more than two hundred years made with sugar, butter, cinnamon, eggs and flour.