In the end of the sandy barrier extending between Ovar and the village of San Jacinto, limited to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and the east by the Ria de Aveiro channels, the Nature Reserve almost fades before the greatness of the surrounding scenery. In it, a well maintained dunes, consolidated by spontaneous vegetation, bordering a forested area from 1888, in order to fix the sands.

Between 1981 and 1984, several ponds, currently attended by numerous water birds of the estuary were opened.

From the century. IX, and over many centuries, human populations have fought for their stay in these riparian lands, facing a harsh nature, knowing the success and failure, but always adapting to new situations.

The end of the century. XIX, with maritime pine plantation, this dunes of recent formation, populations imposed decisively its rhythm, ending stagnant water and speeding up the process, always slow, natural stabilization of sand.

Discover the “niche” green of a coniferous forest threatened by acacia trees, exotic species from Australia and invasive behavior, the nuclei of hardwoods in the lower areas and even their own species of wetlands next to artificially open ponds. In beach areas, the pioneer species, will naturally colonizing and fixing the sand, forming dunes.

Are about two and a half hours in close contact with nature, the average time to fly the route an area that has become a place of refuge for waterfowl and lagoon other waterfowl. Properly marked, are publicly available variants to the route with different distances wishing to respond to any option.

The Natural Reserve of S. Jacinto Dunes covers an area of 960ha, of which 210ha match maritime area. Is located in the tip of the peninsula extending between Ovar and the village of S. Jacinto. It is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and the east by the Ria de Aveiro’s arms.

The artificial opening of the bar channel, in the early nineteenth century, was authorized again the salt sea water to mix the sweet river water. It is the origin of the Ria de Aveiro. A multitude of dunes out of sight!

And a must see for all lovers of fauna and flora. Be sure to visit the Interpretive Center and braving the Rail Nature Discovery.
When to go?
You can visit the Nature Reserve every day except Sundays and holidays. For security reasons, the hunting season the duck house access tracks are also forbidden on Thursdays.

In a region characterized by a mild climate, this protected area can be visited throughout the year, however the routes may be temporarily closed with adverse weather conditions.

For your safety, their presence within the Reserve must be authorized by the services of this protected area, so you must always pass through the reception. If closed call 960 335 438. You can also send a message in advance for the Nature Reserve or Angelina Barbosa | email: angelina.barbosa@icnf.pt. Entry may be made of 9:30 to 12pm and from 13h to 15h.

The Beach of San Jacinto has its unique beauty in the landscape of dunes, among which are diluted walkways of

The Aveirense Theatre is a municipal structure of regular progression in the various artistic fields, standing out as host entity par excellence and as a venue for knowledge, for knowledge and for the timeliness of creation.
Its performance philosophy to provide a public service and is therefore aware of the local public and to their socio-cultural diversity, developing their awareness activities, training and creating new audiences.
It is a recreational space and entertainment, aesthetic enjoyment, training and education, along with its diffuser function and identity promoter and culture.

The salt produced is stored in conical heaps. To avoid exposure to rain with consequent dissolution of the salt, the mountains were initially covered with sedge or bajunça (abundant grass in the region) and land. The plastic was revolutionized coverage. The way yet more effective to store the salt is within the haystacks, wooden buildings.

The exposed barns are located in the pier Cais of S. Roque, long the salt trade center in Aveiro. Rectangular and gable plant on the street, the haystacks of S. Roque Pier have gabled roofs. The planking, painted vermilion, finds himself willing horizontally.

Coming of salt in kid lost hours enjoying the bustle of salt-boats to dock and effective. Like ants on a path, boats and towards the haystacks, salt was transported in baskets.

Church of the former Dominican convent founded in 1423 by Prince Pedro and from which there was only a dressed stone wall where Anicha a Gothic Virgin. Your baroque portico date 1719.

The seaweed is formed by aquatic plants that form in the submerged bed of the lagoon and it was used as a fertilizer on agricultural land margins. Applying this method, farmers turned sandy soils fertile and very productive land.

The moliceiros, whose construction technique is specific, are now tourist attraction of Ria with its colors and decorations suggestive and unique, perform the carriage of passengers on tours by the navigable channels of the lagoon.

The old town of Aveiro city is characterized by a former provisions built along narrow streets, alleys and lanes, scenic elements and natural.

Bairro Operário da Vista Alegre

The Vista Alegre neighborhood is one of the few Portuguese cases, and the first in which a totally private, philanthropic initiative founded an industrial village of this scale, self-contained and isolated from other urban areas.

José Ferreira Pinto Basto, the founder of Porcelain Factory Vista Alegre, started in 1824, its construction, in order to house the workers who flocked there from all over the country, with the sole purpose of the work. Its construction aimed to encourage artistic training of workers through education and cultural activities such as theater or the band’s music, which still can be seen on site, featuring bucolic characteristics to the taste of the time and imbued with the artistic spirit that guided the design aesthetics of porcelain.

Bairro da Malhada

Embracing the richness of the resources of Ria – Aveiro Lagoon, settled in the east bank of the Canal Boco a typical neighborhood of fishermen, characterized by the presence of a maritime theme designs on top of their houses.

In 1974, the Fort was considered a cultural heritage building. Continues to perform support functions to the signaling of inland navigation and was built with defensive lines and typical angled bastions of his time.

Forte da Barra

3830-565 Gafanha da Nazaré

GPS: 40º38’42.147’’ | -8º43’58.332’’

Can be divided into three main areas: the southern area includes the canals of Aveiro (Boco) and Mira, respectively with 7:14 km long and 200 and 300 meters at its widest point. The Channel S. Jacinto – Ovar in the north is 25 km long. In the far north this channel is very shallow resulting in a complex network of small canals and basins. The third zone, with a very complex geography, ends in front of the mouth of the river Antuã and is designated by Ria Murtosa.

Until about 10 centuries Ria did not exist, the rivers emptying directly into the ocean. At that time, began the development of two sandy languages, one to the north in Espinho and south near the Cabo Mondego. Over time the location of the bar was ranging from Torreira and Mira with periods in which the pond was completely isolated from the ocean. In 1808 was built the current bar, fixed by two piers.

The Vouga and Antuã rivers are the main sources of fresh water. The movement within the pond is dominated by the tide. On the west coast of Portugal the tidal wave propagates from south to north. The water penetrates into the Ria through the bar channel and the low speed propagates along the channels. The rate of spread is so low that in some places the phase state can be opposed to that which occurs in the ocean. Phase delays are higher in low tide reaching five hours, the ends of Mira channels and S. Jacinto – Ovar (Vicente, 1985). The maximum speed of 1 m / s order occur in the bar area, in the most narrow and deep channels.

It was at the time of its construction, the world’s sixth largest in stone masonry and remain currently the second largest in the Iberian Peninsula and is included in the 26 largest in the world.

Largo Lighthouse, Barra Beach, Gafanha da Nazaré

Visit the afternoon Wednesday: 3 increases (every hour) between 13:30 and 16:30 (winter) or in the period from 14:00 to 17:00 (summer).

Notes: implies the rise of the access staircase.

GPS: 40 ° 38’33.7 “N, 8 ° 44’51.6″ W