Aveiro Off The Beaten Path

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Founded in 1973, Universidade de Aveiro is one of the foremost universities in Portugal in science and technology fields. Its wide campus is located in the southwestern part of the city, a little far away to walk from Praça Humerto Delgado. Not just an academic institution like any other universities in the country, it is also the showcase of some top-level examples of Portugal's modern architecture. Each faculty building was built by the Portuguese architects such as Alcino Soutinho and Manuel Aires Mateus, and the spaces between each building are nice parks and gardens, giving the university students some green space to take a break or walk around. The students on campus will wave their hands at you while the bus is going around the campus.

(P.S.) I took the pictures from the moving bus, so they are not really well-proportioned. Please be fair with it!

If your time is short to go on a tour to Ria de Aveiro, take a stroll to salt pans right outside the city. If you are following the route of Canal Central, keep walking along the opposite side of where the tourism office is, and you will stop seeing the buildings like in the city center. Instead, you will encounter small and short "mountains" of salt, which still is one of the most important products from the area. The other side of Canal São Roque is also the salt pan area; Universidade de Aveiro also owns a good amount of salt pan near its campus.

Vista Alegre is the best china made in Portugal, and it is renowned in many countries. Ilhavo is the birthplace of this secular factory and industry.

If you are interested in this kind of art or product don’t miss this chance to visit Vista Alegre, as there is a Museum by the factory which shows Vista Alegre pieces (china and glass) and techniques along their history (since 1824). There is also a shop for those interested in acquiring some pieces. Their website is: www.vistaalegre.pt and there you may find all the info about it.

Apart from houses, Costa Nova is also renowned for its nice and long beaches. Sand is white and sea is somewhat cold, but nevertheless very enjoyable. Even visiting during Winter months, a walk along the sea is always pleasant, so don’t miss the chance to get to know these beaches. For those not interest in walking on the sand, there is a wooden path which runs along the beaches.

Costa Nova is situated about 11km from Aveiro.

Costa Nova is a fishermen’s village which has typical houses: they are built in wood and they are stripped. They usually are colourful – red, blue, green or yellow – and white, making a vertical or horizontal pattern which sometimes contrasts (in shape) with windows, doors and balconies. If visiting Costa Nova or Aveiro don’t miss the chance of strolling in the village as some houses are lovely, mainly during Spring and Summer when flowers on the balconies blossom, making these houses even brighter.

Costa Nova is situated about 11km from Aveiro.

Go with one of the buses to the Ria. It's great because you can take a bath in thecool waters of the Antlantic ocean and only a few minutes walk away you can go into the warm and smooth waters of the Ria between Barra and Aveiro.
If you walk around Aveiro go to the Park. Its really beautiful!!