Discover Ilhavo – maritime culture and the Ria landscape

Ilhavo combines maritime culture with a landscape shaped by canals, paths and water. The municipality is crossed by the Canal de Mira and the Canal de Ílhavo, which is also called the Rio Bôco. This creates a special combination for planning your trip: you can explore the history of fishing and porcelain, choose paths along the Ria or combine your stay with cycling and canoeing.

Maritime history and porcelain culture

One of the most distinctive cultural sites is the Capela da Vista Alegre, with the tomb of D. Manuel de Moura Manuel, the Bishop of Miranda. It is classified as a National Monument of Portugal. The Museu da Vista Alegre is located in a former workshop wing of the Vista Alegre porcelain factory complex. Its porcelain collection documents the company’s technological and artistic development throughout its history.

The Centro de Religiosidade Marítima is Portugal’s first museum centre dedicated to maritime religiosity. It displays religious art and religious cultural assets that reflect the relationship between the people of Ílhavo and the sea. At the Museu Marítimo de Ílhavo, groups of 15 or more visitors can take part in tours arranged in advance and confirmed by the museum. The Navio-Museu Santo André offers another perspective on seafaring: the ship was part of Portugal’s cod fleet and illustrates cod fishing methods using trawling. Since August 2001, it has been dedicated to this subject while also honouring the memory of its crew members from almost half a century of service.

The Casa Gafanhoa also brings regional history to life. Built in 1929, the building is an example of the regional type of agricultural home with a courtyard, granary, stables, bedrooms, living and dining rooms, as well as household and baking kitchens. It welcomes visitors on Wednesday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; group visits are possible by making an appointment by telephone in advance.

Ria, paths and water experiences

There are various routes to choose from for active days. The Caminho do Praião is both a 5.5 km ecological trail and a 6 km cycle path between Gafanha da Encarnação and Gafanha do Carmo. Along the route, there are five rest areas, a bird-watching point, several environmental information and awareness panels, as well as mooring buoys for small boats. Those looking for a different type of route can take the Trilho Pedestre Entre a Ria e a Floresta, a nature trail along the shore of the Ria and through the Mata Nacional. It ends at the former agricultural colony.

The Frente Ria Costa Nova–Vagueira is an ecological and cycle path. It connects the beaches of Costa Nova and Praia da Vagueira along the Canal de Mira and provides access to the natural assets of the Ria de Aveiro Special Protection Area within the Natura 2000 network under the Birds Directive. For an activity on the water, section K of the Grande Rota da Ria de Aveiro runs between the Ponte de Fareja in Vagos and the Ponte da Vista Alegre; this section is suitable for canoeing and kayaking.

The eleven-hectare Jardim Oudinot complements the Ria experiences with a leisure marina, footpaths, a cycle route, a picnic area, sports courts for football, basketball and tennis, as well as children’s playgrounds. The Aquário dos Bacalhaus offers a circular tour during which you gradually get closer to the fish.

Which location suits your trip

A two-hour guided walk is offered in Costa Nova. It covers the importance of seafood in the Ria de Aveiro, the Mercado do Peixe and the social history of the local population. Costa Nova is connected by bus services to Ílhavo, as well as to Aveiro and the beaches.

The soils in Ílhavo known as “gafanhas” are extremely fertile and produce potatoes, maize, beans and vegetables. You can get tips on planning your visit and find local handicrafts at the tourist offices of the municipality of Ílhavo.

For regional orientation, you can also visit the local pages for Ílhavo, Costa Nova, Gafanha do Carmo and Gafanha da Encarnação. Further destination pages can be found under Caves Aliança, Vale De Cambra, São João Da Madeira and Santa Maria Da Feira.

For the overarching travel overview: Aveiro.