COIMBRA AND AVEIRO TOUR – ALL DAY

Tour highlights

• MOSTEIRO DE SANTA CLARA (MONASTERY)

  The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, also known as the Convent of Queen Santa Isabel. It was erected in the 17th century to replace the old medieval monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, victim of periodic flooding of the Mondego river. It was a veritable monastery of Franciscan enclosure, not a simple convent.

• PORTUGAL DOS PEQUENITOS
  Here you will find the biggest monuments of Portugal, the typical villages and allusion to the Portuguese discoveries, all on a reduced scale. There are many beauties kept in an environment that is more than 75 years old.
• COIMBRA ( DOWNTOWN)

  Coimbra downtown essentially covers the suburbs of the Middle Ages, which is the area outside the walls, where the people, merchants and craftsmen were crowded. The Old Square was the center of life of the city, and will have just started development there.

  It is also in downtown that we find one of the most important monuments of Coimbra, the Church of Santa Cruz – 12th century
• IGREJA DE SANTA CRUZ (CHURCH)
  Situated on the banks of the Mondego, the Monastery of Santa Cruz is one of the oldest and most important monuments of Coimbra, founded in 1131 by the Canons Regrantes of St. Augustine. D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, came here to attend religious services when he returned from his Christian Reconquest battles. Perhaps that is why he chose him for his eternal rest, as well as for his son, D. Sancho I.
• UNIVERSIDADE (UNIVERSITY)

  The University founded in the thirteenth century that UNESCO has been included in the list of World Heritage.

  It is worth climbing to your tower, where are the bells that marked the rhythm of the classes, to enjoy the superb 360º view over Coimbra. But on the ground floor there is much to visit: the “Pátio das Escolas”, the “Sala dos Capelos” where the most important ceremonies take place, the Chapel of San Miguel with an imposing baroque organ and the Joanina’s Library, which has more than 300 thousand works dated between the 16th and 18th centuries arranged in beautiful ornate bookcases with gilded carving. The group of buildings occupies the place of the Paço where the first kings of Portugal lived, that here got to fix the capital of the kingdom.

• AVEIRO
  Known as the "Portuguese Venice", the charming city of Aveiro is crossed by a canal and is considered as one of the most charming destinations in the country, thanks to its colourful moliceiros (boats) and the buildings in shades.

• MUSEU DE AVEIRO (MUSEUM)
  Situated inside the grand Convent of Jesus, this museum is considered one of the most important sacred art in the country. It exhibits a collection of Portuguese paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, meticulous works of tiles, pieces elegantly worked in gold and a vast collection of clothing, jewelry and relics.

• CONVENTO DE JESUS (CONVENT OF JESUS)
  Founded in the 15th century, this former Dominican convent is strongly associated with the most influential princess of Aveiro - Santa Joana of Portugal. Known for her devotion to the religion that lasted throughout her life, this princess entered the convent in 1472 and lived there until her death. Today, we can visit the marble tomb, and admire the baroque motifs, the Manueline porticoes, the Manueline cloisters and the Mannerist chapels that embellish this historic monument.

• MERCADO DO PEIXE (FISH MARKET)
  The famous Fish Market is a traditional market that houses some of the best seafood restaurants in Aveiro. Countless restaurants and a wide range of shops and bars are to be found in the surrounding area. Choose one of the traditional cafes as you stroll through the city and taste “ovos moles” (soft eggs) which are the specialty of the district.

• ESTAÇÃO DE AVEIRO (TRAIN STATION)
  The Aveiro Train Station is decorated with a set of tiles from the Fábrica da Fonte Nova (1916), with regional motifs. This charming building, which is full of natural light, has the most important outdoor tile collection in Aveiro.

• MUSEU DA VISTA ALEGRE (MUSEUM)
  Aveiro is the home of the famous porcelains of Vista Alegre, an example of the long Portuguese tradition in ceramics. Set within the original factory where these delicate works of art are produced, this museum is one of the district's most visited attractions. Contemplate the historical traces of the earliest pieces of the brand, see the antique drawings and learn how the tools used to create these porcelain marvels work, which have evolved over time.

• PRAIA DA BARRA (BEACH OF BARRA)

  Located next to the pontoon that marks the entrance of the Harbour of Aveiro and where it drains the Ria, the Beach of Barra has an extensive beach and offers good conditions for the practice of various sports like surfing, bodyboarding, kitesurfing, sailing and sport fishing.

  Next to the beach stands the imposing Lighthouse of Aveiro, built more than a century ago and 62 meters high is the highest in Portugal.

• PRAIA DA COSTA NOVA (BEACH OF COSTA NOVA)
  The most picturesque image of the Costa Nova is the one on the side where the wooden haystacks are lined with stripes of strong colour alternating with white. Built by fishermen for shelter or storage of fishing gear, these restored haystacks are nowadays pleasant holiday homes.

Experiences and optional Visits​

• AS SALINAS DE AVEIRO (AVEIRO SALT-WATER)
  Visit the famous Salinas of Aveiro (salt-water), where the so-called "white gold" is produced. A unique experience that will give you the opportunity to know the history, tools and millenarian methods used in the extraction of salt and that still today are present in the navies of salt of Aveiro.
• MUSEU MARÍTIMO DE ÍLHAVO (MARITIME MUSEUM OF ÍLHAVO)

  The Maritime Museum of Ílhavo was born from the strong connection of the population of Ílhavo to the maritime culture.

  This museum is distinguished from others within the same theme. In addition to the rich permanent and temporary collections, it also includes a very interesting codfish aquarium and the Santo André Ship-Museum, a former trawler that was part of the Portuguese cod fleet.