Discover Murtosa: Ria de Aveiro, Culture and Trails

Murtosa combines the landscape of the Ria de Aveiro with a distinctive cultural history. At Praia do Bico, water, nature and memories of fishing and trade come together. There is also a museum, historic churches and two easy trails that reveal different sides of the town. For your trip planning, this means you can create a stay combining nature observation, culture and activity without limiting yourself to just one type of experience.

Water, Nature and the History of Fishing

Praia do Bico is located on the Canal da Murtosa of the Ria de Aveiro, in the Freguesia da Murtosa. Since 2016, it has held the status of a designated bathing area. It is also accessible to people with reduced mobility and forms part of the NaturRia nature trail, which is open to visitors. The surroundings are close to nature and particularly rich in species. This makes Praia do Bico a natural starting point for travellers who want to discover the landscape character of the Ria and combine a stay by the water with nature experiences.

Today, Arte Xávega can be observed on the beaches around Murtosa. This traditional form of fishing was the first type of fishing practised in the settlement and served as the inhabitants’ only livelihood. The nets are now pulled ashore by tractors rather than oxen. This change can also be understood at Cais do Bico: for much of the 20th century, it was an important embarkation, disembarkation and trading point.

Museum and Churches as Cultural Landmarks

COMUR – Museu Municipal preserves the memory of eel canning in Murtosa. After the museum content was installed, it opened to the public on 21 February 2015. A visit to the museum therefore provides a tangible insight into an economic sector connected to local history. Anyone wishing to understand the development of the town alongside its landscape and waterways can include this cultural focus in their trip planning.

Another historic landmark is Igreja de São Lourenço. It was inaugurated on 19 November 1939; the parish of São Lourenço was also established on the same day. Together with Praça Jaime Afreixo, the church forms a historically and symbolically significant ensemble. It reflects the religious, commercial and urban development of Vila Murtosa. Igreja Matriz da Murtosa, by contrast, is a Baroque church from the first half of the 18th century. Until the end of the 17th century, the original parish church of Murtosa stood on this site.

Easy Trails for Different Day Plans

Two easy routes with clearly stated distances are available for an active day. The Percurso do Canal da Murtosa is an 11.6-kilometre circular route in the Freguesia da Murtosa. Cais do Bico is given as the recommended starting and finishing point. The Percurso dos Campos da Ria is 15.5 kilometres long and passes through the Freguesias do Bunheiro and da Murtosa. These two distances help you choose the scope of your day plan: the shorter circular route remains within the Freguesia da Murtosa, while the longer route includes two Freguesias.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore first consider which combination you prefer. If waterscapes and nature are your main priorities, Praia do Bico and the NaturRia trail suit this type of travel interest. If you would like to delve more deeply into the town’s history, COMUR, the churches, Praça Jaime Afreixo and the historic Cais do Bico offer several cultural points of interest. For a stay focused on activity, the designated trails can be planned as a separate priority. The key consideration is less a blanket accommodation recommendation than a location that suits your preferred daily rhythm in Murtosa.

More Destinations for Your Research

If you would like to compare other places besides Murtosa, you can also include Oiã, Canedo, Aveiro, Travanca, Anadia, Gafanha Da Nazaré, Nogueira do Cravo and Alvarenga in your trip planning.

For the higher-level travel overview: Aveiro.