Aveiro
Portugal City Travel Guide: Aveiro
City Guide I
Turismo I Arrival
I Accommodation
I Entertainment
I Internet Cafes
Aveiro
- Located on a huge lagoon south of Porto.
- Town of canals and graceful bridges.
- A real 'sea' town: famed for fish and salt.
- Gateway to surrounding beaches.
Located on the Lisbon-Porto train line along
the Costa de Prata, Aveiro (uh-vye-ro) is a regional port
city with a population of 40,000. Historically, the city has prospered
as a seaport, with salt as one of its main industries. In spite
of relative economic decline, it boosts a spectacular bird sanctuary
nearby, the Museu de Aveiro, and charming canals and homes. Decent
beaches are nearby.
Aveiro was originally founded in the time of the Roman Emperor
Marcus Aurelius. The development of the salt industry, agriculture,
and fishing, and the first cod-fishing expeditions to distant Newfoundland
in 1501 brought the city a period of great prosperity in the 16th
century. However, in the winter of 1575, heavy storms destroyed
the deep channel that had once linked the marshy lagoon known as
Ria to the sea. This effectively destroyed the city's sea trade.
The Ria was not joined to the sea again until the early part of
the 19th century.
Today the city's many bridges and canals and pastel-colored homes
give it a genteel feel. In the canals, you can see the beautifully
painted boats known as moliceiros. The bird reserve is at
Sao Jacinto and is accessible via a bus from the AV Aveirense bus
stop on Rua Clube dos Galitos. The Museu de Aveiro, which is located
on Rua Miguel Bombarda (234 423 497), features the tomb of Princess
Joana, which is a marble mosaic masterpiece. There are some good
surfing beaches west of Aveiro at Praia da Barra and Costa Nova,
which can be reached by bus from the city center.
Aveiro city hosts a monthly arts and crafts fair on the second
Sunday of each month at the Praca Melo Freitas showcasing local
products.
Aveiro Tourist Office
Regional Tourist Office of Rota da Luz.
Rua Joao Mendonca, 8.
Tel. 234 420 760; Fax 234 428 326.
Getting to Aveiro
The city is more easily reached by rail than bus. There are eight
departures a day from Lisbon's Santa Apolonia Station on intercity
trains that take two hours and fifty minutes and cost EUR 11.50
($12.30) for 2nd class seats, EUR 18.20 ($19.50) for first class
seats. On the high speed Alfa Pendular trains, travel from Lisbon's
Santa Apolonia Station is cut to two and a half hours and the price
notches up to EUR 26.80 ($29) in Conforto class or EUR 17.60 ($19)
in Turistica class. On Alfa trains that make a few more stops and
take about five minutes longer, it is possible to make the trip
for EUR 14.50 ($15.50) in tourist class, EUR 23.80 ($25.50) in Conforto.
Traveling south from Porto, fares are EUR 10.20 ($11) or €9
($9.65) in Conforto, EUR 7.10 ($7.60) in Turistica. The journey
takes forty-five minutes.
Note: You can save 10% by buying a return ticket. Children under
12 years of age and people aged 65 or over receive a 50% discount.
From Lisbon take the A1 highway north. Takes about 2 - 3 hours.
On the bus from Lisbon, it takes 4 hours and costs around EUR 11
($11.80).
At the low end, there is always the drink-all-night-sleep-in-the-fountain
option. For those not so inclined, camping is an option. The parque
de campismo (234 369 425) at Barra and Gafanha da Nazare (234 366
565) northwest of Ilhavo are both reasonable and close to town.
For those who prefer a roof, the pousada da juventude (234 420 536,
fax 234 382 395) which is 1.5 km south of town is EUR 26.50 ($28.50)
a night for a double, EUR 9.50 ($10.20) for a multiple. Reservations
strongly recommended. A good deal near the train station is Pensao
Avenida (234 423 366) on Avenida Dr Lourenco Peixinho. Residencial
Beira (234 424 297), Rua Jose Estevao 18 and Residencial Palmeira
(234 422 521), Rua da Palmeira 7.
 Featured
Hotel
As Americas, only 4 Star hotel in town, 70 rooms, satellite TV.
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Close to the train station, Café Restaurant O Aquario, Rua
Almirante Candido dos Reis 139 (234 425 014), is reasonable. Near
the fish market, Restaurante Ferro, Rua Tenente Resende 30 (234
422 214), serves pratos do dia. Vegetarian fare can be had at Sonatura,
which is located at Rua Clube dos Galitos 6 (234 424 474).
Along the Canal Sao Roque beyond the fish market, there are several
good places to toss one down: Estrondo, Cais de Sao Roque 74 (234
383 366), Urgencias, on a nearby corner (234 428 082), and Salpoente,
Cais de Sao Roque 83 (234 382 674).
List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
Internet Cafe
Aveiro Digital
opposite Town Hall
10am-8.30pm Mon-Sat.
Local football team
 Aveiro
is home to SC Beira Mar, a first division side in the Portuguese
domestic league that plays its home matches at the Estadio Mario
Duarte. Thanks to Euro2004, the team will be soon be playing in
a brand new stadium that is being purpose-built for the tournament.
The US$39 million Estadio
Municipal will have a capacity of 30,000.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22C and 26C.
Get more weather information for Portugal
Aveiro
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