Aveiro – Discover Portugal's Venice

Aveiro, zwane również “portugalską Wenecją”, to urocze miasto położone w północnej Portugalii, nad rzeką Vouga. Słynie z sieci kanałów, po których pływają kolorowo przyozdobione łodzie, moliceiros.

Uważa się, że nazwa Aveiro pochodzi od celtyckiego słowa “aber”, oznaczającego ujście rzeki. Początkowo okolice znane były przede wszystkim z produkcji soli, suszonych ryb i rozwijającego się portu do obsługi żeglugi handlowej, który dostrzegli wikingowie w IX wieku, przyczyniając się do rozwoju miasta.

W XIII wieku miasto uzyskało prawa miejskie, a szybki rozwój uplasował je wśród najważniejszych portów w Portugalii. Od XI wieku Aveiro zdobyło uznanie na portugalskim dworze. Rodzina królewska oraz członkowie portugalskiej arystokracji, dostrzegając atrakcyjne położenie, zaczęli odwiedzać coraz częściej miasto, przyczyniając się do jego rozwoju, także architektury, co można podziwiać współcześnie. Ciekawostką jest, że w 1435 roku król Duarte zezwolił na coroczne targi wolne od podatku, które stały się znane jako Targi Marcowe (lub “Feira de Março” w języku portugalskim), które tradycyjnie odbywają się do dziś.

In the 15th century, a defensive wall was constructed to encircle the historical city center, within which important state institutions operated behind grand facades of buildings.

The golden era was interrupted by a powerful storm in 1575, which destroyed access to the port, the city's main source of livelihood. As a result, the population of Aveiro dwindled to one-fourth of its previous numbers in the subsequent years. It was only after the construction of the Barra Canal in 1808 that the city began to develop again, eventually becoming a popular retreat for the Portuguese aristocracy in the 19th century.

Aveiro's top attractions

• The city's biggest attraction are moliceiros, przypominające weneckie gondole, drewniane łodzie, które służyły przede wszystkim do zbierania wodorostów i transportowania, czyli po portugalsku “moliço”. Były one używane do takich celów w XVI wieku, aż do czasu, kiedy ogromny sztorm, o którym wspomniałam wyżej, zablokował odpływ rzeki Vouga do oceanu.
  After the construction of the Barra Canal in 1808, canal tourism flourished, and in the 19th century, Aveiro once again became a favored leisure destination for the Portuguese aristocracy.

• Striped houses in Costa Nova - While in Aveiro, do not miss a trip to the nearby ., where there are beautifully painted wooden houses, read more - Click Here.

Aveiro monuments

We parked our camper not far from the train station, where there's a dedicated parking area. To reach the city center, we had to walk along the main road, passing through the station, which is beautifully decorated with ceramic tiles depicting the city's history and notable figures.

... Portuguese railway stations are usually beautifully decorated, providing a trail of architecture worth exploring....

Walking along the city's main avenue, we admired the facades of old, richly decorated townhouses, evoking the historical importance of the place.

Among the most important sights to explore while in Aveiro are:

• Cathedral, built in the 15th century in Gothic style.
• Museu de Aveiro
  Ovo Mole monument - sweets, which you will read about below
  Igreja da Misericórdia de Aveiro
  Capela de Sao Goncalinho
• Museu de Arte Nova
• Fábrica Centro Ciência Viva - a fun option for children
• Passadiços Ria de Aveiro, a scenic path along the south side of Aveiro's lagoon.
• Railway station - right through here runs the most important northern railway line, connecting Lisbon to Porto.
  

Aveiro Gastronomy

Often when recommending restaurants, I don't feel entirely comfortable because we often need to choose places where our four-legged friend can relax too. This time, we opted for... São Gonçalinho Petisqueira Barright by the canal, as we happened to be passing by there. We had a splendid view of the canal, boats, and the nearby market. But surely, there's something even better to discover & taste.

Unfortunately, when we arrived in the city, the center was undergoing renovations. It made sightseeing quite inconvenient as crowds of tourists navigated through narrow pathways set up by the road authorities. However, we enjoyed some delicious ice cream at Ice Cream Portugal, where you can also stock up on... Ovos Moles (many shops offer this typical treat) – it's an egg-based dessert. The outer shell is a thin waffle in the shape of an egg, containing a egg cream filling .I recommend trying it, there is even a monument in the centre distinguishing this sweetness.

We enjoyed Aveiro and its surroundings a lot.... these places are often skipped in favour of the more popular Porto, but if you have an extra day to explore the region, Aveiro and Costa Nova is a great option!