About Aveiro

Aveiro is a vibrant city on the edge of the Ria, a shallow coastal lagoon rich in birdlife. The city is crossed by waterways on which high-prowed traditional boats (called moliceiros) ferry passengers across a network of picturesque canals, earning the city the nickname “Venice of Portugal”.

Aveiro’s fortunes have always been tied to the Ria estuary. It was already a centre of salt production more than a thousand years ago; the 10th century Countess Mumadona Dias of Portucale referred to Aveiro in her testament under the name Alauario et Salinas, literally, "a gathering place or preserve of birds and of great salt".

The city came into its own in the Middle Ages, and visitors can expect to find a rich heritage of centuries-old buildings, including Aveiro Cathedral and the church Igreja da Misericordia, designed by 18th-century Italian Architect Nicolau Nasoni.

A very convenient way to see Aveiro is to use the BUGA - Bicicleta de Utilização Gratuita de Aveiro, bicycles for use within the town limits for free (for more information see https://buga.cm-aveiro.pt/).