2016 - April : Trip to the Aveiro area
This trip named "Between land and sea" was organized for us again by the group "Neverending"
We set off on a lovely spring morning, through rolling green hills of the Algarve and the Alentejo, feeling very fortunate to be among old friends and welcome new members with our ‘Marvelous’ Manuel at the wheel of our coach. On arrival our guides, Fatima and Catarina, welcomed us at the Moliceiro Hotel, on the Central Canal – our home for the next four days.
Hotel Moliceiro
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Aveiro is dominated by picturesque canals which were built in the 19th Century for transport of fish, salt and seaweed. Transport was done by colourful gondolas, called Moliceiros. Nowadays they are just carrying tourists. The former wealth is shown by the beautiful Art Deco houses lining the canals. With rain threatening, our Moliceiro trip was replaced by a train tour.
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Making Ovos Moles
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We toured the vast Aveiro Cathedral with its imposing façade and two organs, one old and one very modern, then passed by the station with an amazing wall of blue and white azulejos. This was followed by a visit to the "Oficina do Doce" where we could sample the well-known "Ovos Moles", a sweet with egg yolk. One of our members even helped make them. Dinner at the Fish market restaurant was a delightful experience.
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Train station
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Home of Egas Moniz
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Next day we toured Murtosa’s Museum and Cannery (COMUR), locally known as “the Eels Factory”. It was started by one woman and is now a state-of the-art museum. Following this we went to the home of neurologist Dr. Egas Moniz, a 1949 Medicine Nobel Prize winner. The grand house has been kept as it was since his death in 1955. Lunch at Abilio’s, savouries, soup and pork – a banquet! |
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Then on to the Maritime Museum in Ílhavo displaying a large replica of a cod fishing boat that held 20 dories and a crew of 30. Altogether a stunning museum. Ílhavo was home to most of the brave cod fishermen in the 20th century. Our next stop was at the Vista Alegre porcelain factory where we saw the women painting incredibly delicate figures, then a tour of the museum. |
At the Nautical Museum in Ílhavo
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On the third day our first stop was to the Lorvão Convent, started in the 6 thC. and rebuilt in the 16th C. It was one of three monasteries built in strategic locations at the time of threat from the Visigoths from the North and the Moors from the South.
Monastery of Santa Cruz
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After lunch we drove through the Bussaco forest where Catarina took us through the cork ceilinged monastery of Santa Cruz next to the palace. Wellington and Marshal Messena stayed here after the Battle of Bussaco – the first battle won against Napoleon. Finally we went to the Quinta da Mata Fidalga winery and after a tour there were treated to a very tasty suckling pig buffet. |
At Taco
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On the 4th day, Dra. Lara Alves, a rock art specialist, and Dr. Pedro Sobral took us to see two burial sites at Taco and then to Sever do Vouga to the megalithic dolmen, Chão Redondo.
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Chão Redondo
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We spent a pleasant afternoon at the 12th C. Arouca Monastery, started by the noble woman, Mafalda. Its huge kitchen was impressive. The nuns had large rooms, reflecting their wealth. A Baroque organ recital was a highlight.
At the Arouca monastery
