By Priscila Carvalho
Located on the coast of Portugal, Aveiro is a city that, little by little, is falling in the taste of Brazilians.
Even though not as famous as the capital Lisbon and the old Porto, it can be inserted into the itinerary of those who explore this part of Europe and want to escape obvious on the continent.
Known for being the “Portuguese Venice”, the place is an option, mainly if the intention is to get to know a new and cheaper place than the traditional canals in Italy.
This is because besides the prices being much lower – eating for up to €7 – it is possible to explore almost everything in a round trip.
Coming from Porto, the tourist will spend about an hour by car, and there are still bus stations that take you to the city.
You can get to the region from the capital in about two hours and a half.
“People go to Porto, visit a bigger city, and then to Aveiro.”
“The ticket costs €3.80. That is, it is very easy and fast to get to know the place”, says the Brazilian Gabriela Monteiro, who lived for five years in the region and lives in Spain.
But the label and comparison with Italy are not seen well by those who live there.
The Portuguese don’t like the title of Portuguese Venice. They think it is not fair to Aveiro,” says Gabriela Monteironone.
MOLICEIRO, NOT GONDOLAS
Unlike Venice, which is common to take gondola rides, in Aveiro, you will ride moliceiro, boats similar to those in the Italian territory, but with slight differences.
This specific name is given because, in the past, these small boats served to collect moliço, a kind of aquatic plant used in agriculture and used as fertilizer for the land in the region.
And unlike the tours offered in Italy, this one is much more affordable.
Riding in a moliceiro is one of the main attractions, and the tour costs around €13 for 45 minutes. The traditional Italian city’s prices start at €80.
It is worth remembering that prices vary according to the time of year and season.
In the case of the European summer, when the months of July and August are the “busiest”, the city is usually full, even with tourists from Europe itself.
The ideal way to avoid long lines and to better enjoy all the tourist attractions is to go before July or from September on.
REFINED GASTRONOMY
The city also became known for being a reference in some dishes.
Among them are the Aveiro soft eggs, made of a delicate wafer dough stuffed with egg jam.
The delicacy would have been created by nuns in convents in the 19th century, and today, it is possible to visit the factory and see the process of how they are made.
The tourist can also try the rich seafood cuisine and the traditional “bifana”, a pork sandwich washed down with port wine.
The dish can cost around €10 – including a beer to go with it.
EMPTIER BEACHES, ACCESSIBLE ALL YEAR ROUND
The city offers emptier beaches close to the center for those who like to be close to the sea.
This is the case of Costa Nova, which is a 15-minute drive away and has some very Instagrammable striped “little houses” known as palheiros.
Brazilian couple Tatiana Rodrigues and Leonardo Silva explored Portugal on a 20-day road trip and were surprised by Aveiro.
Without expecting much from the city, they say it was a positive surprise to include the place in their itinerary and explore a region still not popular among Brazilians.
For them, the beach was one of the differentials of the trip.
“What I liked most was getting to know the street of little houses on the Costa Nova because, besides being beautiful, they are very photogenic.”
“It was springtime, very sunny, so I was able to take a walk around the city and also see the boats that make a tour very similar to Venice,” says Tatiana, who visited the region in March last year.
YOU CAN SAVE MONEY
Unlike larger cities in Portugal, where public transport or other means is necessary, the tourist can do everything by walking in Aveiro.
Considered safe and well-signposted, there is no problem exploring each point on foot.
Quite the contrary: this is what is recommended by those who live in the region.
“Because it is a small city, you can do everything on foot.”
“I used to live in the center of Aveiro, and there was a mall and everything around it”, says content producer Helena Heidemann, who has lived there for five years and left the South of Brazil for the Portuguese city.
Tatiana also agrees that one of the differentials of the place is being able to explore everything without needing a vehicle.
Portugal’s coastal region is much more economical than Venice, which she has also visited.
“I didn’t do any paid tours, so you don’t need to spend anything to visit Aveiro,” she says and adds:
“The beauty of the city and its sights made me choose one of the ones I liked most in Portugal because it is cheerful and full of colors.”
“I walked from the colorful houses on the waterfront to the historic center.”
THE REGION IS ALSO GOOD FOR LIVING
With the boom of Brazilians leaving the country and heading toward Portuguese lands, Aveiro could not be left off the list.
Six years ago, when she arrived in the city, Gabriela says it was difficult to meet anyone considering living there.
The region is often not the first option of those who immigrate: “Brazilians would only go to Lisbon or Porto”, she says.
But this reality has changed over the years, and the city has attracted more and more people.
When you live far from the center, paying €450 for houses with up to three bedrooms is possible.
However, the closer you are to the city center, the more expensive the rent will be.
Some apartments cost as much as €950 a month.
“The problem is that living in the center is already quite expensive.”
“Aveiro is building luxury houses, and I believe that in five years, it will only be luxurious,” says Gabriela.
Even in the face of this price rise, she believes it is currently a great option compared to Lisbon and Porto, cities saturated with foreigners and tourists.
“It’s a tiny city and ideal for those who want tranquility,” she concludes.
With information from UOL
News Portugal, English news Portugal, Portugal’s tourism