A Moliceiro Boat Ride through Aveiro’s Ria || The “Portuguese Venice”

I’ve never been to Venice or Italy, but I have been to the “Portuguese Venice”…

Oh sweet colorful Aveiro, I had only been to your well known and lovely beaches, Costa Nova with your iconic Aveiro striped homes all perfectly lined in different colors. And Barra, a more lively beach town with fresh sea to table al fresco restaurants right alongside the famed Lighthouse – where you can spot the loveliest of sunsets. Don’t forget the crisp bottle of vinho verde and light jacket for that nighttime sea breeze…

Even after hearing so many nice things about the actual city of Aveiro, I only got to experience it for myself this summer. For those living or staying in Central Portugal, Aveiro is a doable hour drive and city to spend a great day. It’s the kind of trip you don’t need to go to far to have a really wonderful day exploring. If you happen to be there during the summer, make it an extended weekend so you can enjoy its wonderful beaches!! 

Our plan was to explore the best of what Aveiro had to offer in the most go-with-the-flow attitude. The sun had finally come out after many days of clouds and drizzle, and it really felt like a summer day. So whatever we managed to see or do on our day trip, would be great! 

Aveiro is known for several things, one of them being its icnoic channels through the city that are navigated by moliceiro boats. They sail through the “Ria”, showing the other side of Aveiro. In other times, these boats and channels were used to transport goods, like seaweed and salt, but now it has become a popular way to tour and see the city. Yes, a touristy activity, but it really is a must if you’re in town. These traditional boats are kept to display their original artwork, all different and beautifully representing famous figures, symbols, historical facts or popular devotion, like the legendary singer, Amalia Rodrigues.  

These brightly colored and painted boats are truly a sight to see especially as several can gather at once within the Ria. They certainly capture the attention of all tourists, including myself! 

It’s a short 45 minute guided tour around the city, sailing along the Ria to see small parts of the city that still resemble years past. During the 19^th century, which these boats were popular for transporting moliço, a seaweed used to harvest into agriculture fertilizer. It was used in the sandy soils that belonged to farmers in the area, but as seaweed became replaced with chemical fertilizers {boo}, this use for these boats declined into the 20^th century. 

To navigate on board a Moliceiro boat is like traveling back in time. You embark on a sensory journey!

I mean where else do you navigate past the Royal School of Languages? Also what is it you ask? Well it’s not quite “royal” it’s just a very well known languages school in Portugal. 

 

How gorgeous is the yellow and blue detailing on this house!!

As you sail past the old salt warehouses and salt pyramids, even spotting a local boat still carrying bags of sea salt, you’re also given a taste of the beautiful historical buildings that greet you when entering Aveiro, whether by car or boat! 

As a lover of European architecture, I was of course smitten with the Art Noveau architecture known within Aveiro, and it was just beautiful to be able to see these buildings from the water, like the years before me had seen it during other times. You’ll see the Casa do Major Pessoa, the Edifício da Casa dos Ovos Moles and a few other architectural city legacies.

You’ll then begin to sail through newer built parts of the city with apartment building complexes made to look like a cruise ship along the channel. On your way you’ll sail beneath a few various pedestrian bridges, that cross over the waterways. Each are decorated or adorned with different items, like flowers or ribbons to celebrate Love. These lovely walkways connecting both side of the street are useful and what help make Aveiro famous for being the “Portuguese Venice”.

Ria de Aveiro’s unique romanticism also makes it the perfect setting to host cultural, city and leisure events! Which there is plenty to take part in

Once you sail past the darling pink building and the Moliceiro Pier entrance, you’ll also find the Forum, which is their kind of shopping mall. Can we agree at how beautiful this shopping mall is??

We loved that it was basically an outdoor shopping center, with even its own a rooftop park, that reminded slightly of me of La Encantada in Tucson. If I lived in Portugal I would certainly drive up to Aveiro on a Sunday, just to do some window shopping and walk along the Forum and Ria. 

When you arrive back at the pier, make sure to take the short walk along the channel and see those gorgeous Art Noveau buildings up close…and of course try one of those famous Ovos Molos, a typical delicacy from the area, and legendary to Aveiro. They are tiny egg custard filled bites, heaven! Rich! Must try!

Then pop in and browse through the several handcraft artisan shops and maybe even pick up a lovely looking replica of a Moliceiro to take back home. 

When in Aveiro, one must take the lovely Moliceiro Boat ride along the Ria!