Canals and Colors in Aveiro
Aveiro is a quiet dreamy city an hour train ride away from Porto. We came to check out the canals and waterways that lined the streets, but ended up being captivated by the little details that made this place a perfect day trip from Porto.
Also, we learned there is a big price difference between taking the local trains and the fast trains. Local trains: 7 euro. Fast trains. 55 euro. Time difference: 15 minutes.
The main train station is only a 10 minute walk from the main area, but before we rushed off to the canals, we took a few minutes to admire the tile work of the old restored train station next door.
Our first sighting of one of the traditional boats called Moliceiros. Notice the lack of paddles along the sides. These boats are not quiet drifting things. They are motored and gas-powered and their engines can be heard purring all along the canals.
A colorfully painted Moliceiro docks along a canal side with the Forum Aveiro shopping mall in the background.
The Central Canal is where the majority of the shops, restaurants and Moliceiros are, but there are other waterways to explore as well. We found this quiet one along Cais dos Mercanteis.
This is another canal a little ways outside the city center (but still walkable) to find another site that I wanted to see…
…but was not quite ready for the season yet. But even in early spring, the Aveiro Salt Ponds sure make a pretty picture. A little museum is also here while talks about salt production in Aveiro and the origin of these ponds.
While the canals and lagoons may be more eye-catching at first, we found ourselves drawn to the land-based twists of the side streets.
We’ve seen mermaid scales, waves, and other sea-themed limestone designs, but I think this is the first time we’ve seen bubbles!
The town is very compact which means it took me forever to get down a street because I would keep stopping to admire the intricate and unusual tilework on the buildings.