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Located in Aveiro, Portugal, the Museu de Arte Nova  invites visitors to explore the Art Nouveau movement of the early 20th century.  

The building that houses the Museu Arte Nova is the most iconic example of this artistic movement in Aveiro. Formerly known as Casa Major Pessoa—as it was once the residence of Mário Belmonte Pessoa's family—the project was completed in 1909 and is attributed to the architects Silva Rocha and/or Ernesto Korrodi.

Its façade stands out for its rich decorative detail, featuring natural motifs such as flowers and animals, along with elegant, stylised curves—hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style. These elements can be seen in the stonework, tiles, and ornamental ironwork.

Today, the building forms part of the City Museum as the Museu Arte Nova, and also serves as an Interpretative Centre dedicated to this artistic and architectural movement in Aveiro. It marks the starting point of the city’s Art Nouveau Trail and is part of the European Cultural Route Réseau Art Nouveau Network.

Inside, the museum displays a rich collection of decorative arts, furniture, and architectural details from the Art Nouveau era. Visitors are invited to wander through rooms that each highlight a different facet of the movement. The exhibits feature ceramics, glasswork, and metalwork, reflecting the diversity and craftsmanship that define Art Nouveau design.

Several interpretative boards will guide you through life in the salt fields, not only about the  marmotos” – men who still nowadays keep working in the production and extraction of salt – but also about the biodiversity of the region. Inserted in a group of “Marinhas” (salt fields) included in the so-called Grupo Sul do Salgado Aveirense, this is one of the few salt fields that can be visited and the one with the easiest access. It is a living space that changes according to seasons and time of the day, although the “manufacture of salt” is done from June to September. The “marmotos” keep using wooden tools to prevent the adulteration of the original taste of salt by the contact of metal and so produce marine salt and fleur de sel of high quality. Why not take the chance and chat a little with the “marmotos” who are usually around?