Together we will cross Águeda Portugal, street of the umbrellas and 19 other places and we will know the customs and traditions of the region.
To begin with, until a few years ago, Águeda was not a place where one deliberately stopped. As pretty as the town is, there isn’t much to see and do in Águeda itself.
Aveiro, which bears the prestigious nickname of “Venice of Portugal”, is only 35 km away and Coimbra, a must-visit destination in Portugal, is around 65 km away.
However, Águeda’s situation changed in 2011 when, as part of the annual Águeda Art Festival, which takes place in the city of Summerside, the museum was inaugurated and the unique fashion for umbrellas was presented to the delight of the whole world.
Here is the short story of:
The Umbrella Street and the Agit Águeda Festival:
AgitÁgueda makes an unparalleled contribution to the city’s cultural landscape. The mission of the festival is not only to present established artists, but also to promote new musical projects by organizing “Talentos AgitÁgueda”, a competition aimed at encouraging the participation of new national artistic projects.
As far as public art is concerned, the whole city of Águeda is in contact with urban art and the most diverse installations: the installation of thousands of umbrellas in the streets of the city (the Umbrella Sky project) creates a set that is completed with another urban art project that has colored the city: dozens of places have been painted with attractive color variations: from garden benches to long stairs resembling rainbows, and many more drawing and color hotspots. The gigantic tent erected for the festival, with the famous umbrella-shaped decoration, is another point of interest for those visiting AgitÁgueda.
As for the Umbrella Street project, it was both aesthetic and practical. Águeda, like much of Portugal, experiences summer heat, and these umbrellas provide welcome shade from the scorching summer sun.
But practicality was only part of the goal. The umbrellas, and the street art that accompanies them, have brightened up the city and turned it into a place where people have started to stop. And as they stopped and took selfies, and those selfies were then shared on social media, it didn’t take long for more and more people to start visiting Águeda, a fact that was not not common before.
Águeda Portugal
Since then, other towns have taken note of Águeda’s low-cost success and created their own umbrella streets. You will now find them all over the world, especially in Bucharest, Bangkok, Quebec and Dubai. The phenomenon has even spread to other cities in Portugal, such as Olhao.
And to better enrich our detailed tour, let’s move on to:
19 other places to visit:
1/ Águeda Portugal, Pateira de Fermentelos:
Pateira, the former nature reserve of the municipality of Águeda, is an important wetland of national and international interest, classified Zona RAMSAR, NATURA 2000 (Special Protection Area and Site of Community Importance of the Ria de Aveiro). In this lagoon, there are habitats, ecosystems and species with national and international protection status. Very popular place for bird watching, sport fishing, nature photography, sports and outdoor activities, where hiking is highlighted.
2/ Águeda Portugal, Typical village of Alcába Macieira:
Discover the village of Macieira de Alcôba, its memories since the Middle Ages, the evolution of land occupation, irrigation, eiras, granaries, mills and constructions with which corn has shaped the traditional landscape. He knows the works of maize and the local traditions, in their material and symbolic aspects. We visit the Interpretation Center of Old Corn, the mills, the levadas and the millstone recovered. It goes through pedestrian paths (among the best in the country) and points of interest and encounters, at every corner, the dominant presence of the mountain, culture and gastronomy in this typical village on the slopes of Caramulo.
3/ Águeda Portugal, Railway Museum of Macinhata do Vouga:
The Macinhata do Vouga Museum Space, located in the second station of the Sernada branch in Aveiro, occupies the old facilities adapted for this purpose.
In the patented exhibition, you will be able to appreciate an important heritage of the national railway companies and of the Vouga Valley. The journey to the museum can be made by train from Vouguinha on the picturesque Vouga line, the only branch line still operating in Portugal.
4/ Águeda Portugal, The Dionisio Pinheiro and Alice Cardoso Pinheiro Foundation:
The Foundation Museum has six permanent exhibition halls and one temporary exhibition hall. Most of the works of art that make up the museum treasury of the Foundation, which has a vast and surprising collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, ivories and silverware, belong to the 17th, 18th, 19th and twentieth centuries.
5/ Águeda Portugal, Railways and water parks:
Águeda challenges you, on foot or by bike, to visit its natural heritage, traveling through the various parks and river rails scattered throughout the county, some considered the most beautiful and difficult in Portugal, for those who like to venture. Get ready to travel over 50 km of paths, trails and roads, which incorporate 60 points of interest scattered by the parishes of the county.
Discover typical gastronomy, local traditions, human, natural and cultural heritage. From Serra to Pateira, from the granite villages to the city, there are many attractions and places worth visiting.
6/ Águeda Portugal, Igreja da Trofa:
As Nogueira Gonçalves points out, the church is a square building, rebuilt and/or reformulated in three different periods: the 16th century, the beginning and end of the 18th century and the end of the 19th century.
This church is classified as a “national monument”, and this classification derives from the fact that it houses, inside, a sculptural funerary complex of great artistic value – the Pantheon of Lemos.
Inside, of rectangular plan, the choir is remarkable, with a vaulted roof of warheads, four shutters in the secondary clasps and a larger one in the center, where the coat of arms of Lemos is inserted.
7/ Águeda Portugal, Casa Museu Cancioneiro de Águeda:
The headquarters and house-museum of the Cancioneiro de Águeda, located in Eng. Júlio Portela, are the result of the restoration of a building acquired by the Cancioneiro himself, which was a mansion built in the 18th century, and which is one of the most beautiful and historic houses in the city.
The children’s group, the typical group and the old guards have their own space here and the large community finally sees its “actors” put away. The first floor still remains to show the estate and the heritage of a long life that began on November 1, 1958.
The furniture, coming from the “Casa da Alta Vila”, lent to the community by the town hall, is equivalent to the period mentioned. Other pieces are more recent, but adapted to the style and the era.
In the kitchen, there is the only original piece of furniture in the house – a paint-lacquered pine cabinet.
The bedroom is decorated with an iron bed, a sink with porcelain dishes and a chest of drawers, pieces dating from the 1900s. The clothes on display all date from the 19th century.
On the other side of the corridor is the dining room, the furniture of which is identified with the social category of the residents of the house.
The library, which has more than a thousand volumes and publications, is installed in a room adjacent to the living room, on modern shelves where it can be consulted by the public.
This museum presents thematic and temporary exhibitions within the framework of the general theme of the museum.
8/ Águeda Portugal, Alfusqueiro River Park:
Located next to the Alfusqueiro River Bridge, on the road that connects Macieira de Alcôba to Valongo, it is one of the river parks of the municipality of Águeda (located in the parish of Préstimo and Macieira de Alcôba).
At several points of the river, several sand tongues are formed and on its banks, the trees offer shade to bathers. It corresponds to the mountainous area of the municipality, already bordering the Serra do Caramulo.
The Parish Council in partnership with the municipality has made an investment of around 20 thousand euros in the modernization of this space, placing places of shade, natural grass and fine sand on the banks, thus placing the space with unique conditions to enjoy it.
The place is in high demand during the summer and can accommodate more than a hundred vehicles.
9/Águeda Portugal, Old Marnel bridge:
It is a very old work of art, probably from the 19th century. XIII, in sandstone masonry, arranged on five arches, and above the first and second arches, a niche was erected in honor of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, later transferred to a niche-oratory at the entrance north of the bridge.
10/ Águeda Portugal, Ethnographic Museum of the Vouga region:
The Vouga Region Ethnographic Museum depends on the Vouga Region Folklore Group and was founded on July 4, 1977. Its existence is based on the careful collection of the sum of the traditions of the inhabitants of the region.
Exposure
There are costumes, objects for domestic and agricultural use, historical documentation, numismatics, philately, religious culture and other areas relating to the entire region. It is the property of the Vouga Region Folklore Group and occupies the 27 rooms of the palatial house acquired for this purpose.
11/ Águeda Portugal, Alta Vila Park:
The park, a property of municipal interest, is a good example of revivalist architecture, whose romantic motivation is attested, for example, by the sentry boxes and battlements carved into the walls that surround it, revealing medieval influences, or even in the internal structure of the park, punctuated by small bridges, lakes and plantations of exotic trees.
12/ Águeda Portugal, Alcoba apple tree:
It is one of the most characteristic villages of the municipality of Águeda and Serra do Caramulo. Rich in architectural and natural heritage, cultural traditions, ethnography and scenic beauty, it presents itself as a privileged space for outdoor activities, keeping in touch with local traditions and heritage.
It is on the basis of this rich heritage that the municipality of Águeda has developed, together with the local population, projects for the enhancement of the village and its surroundings, including the restaurant “A Escola” and the network of pedestrian paths. (PR3 – village trail and PR 4 – granite land trail) are good examples.
It is in this dynamic that appears the project “Macieira de Alcôba – Aldeia Pedagógica do Milho Antigo”, a project which aims at the development of sustainable tourism.
13/ Águeda Portugal, Agueda’s cuisine:
The county’s cuisine is abundant and diverse. Let’s taste the lampantana with mutton or goat meat, the rabbit “à moda de Águeda”, without forgetting the cod “à Lagareiro” (in the oven), “albardado” (fried and with onion sauce) and “Riverside” (fried).
Cornbread, field soup, farmer’s broth and saffron rice are also among the delights that the land has to offer. In pastry, where sugar, eggs and almonds are abundant, there are rifles, sequilhos, “nuns’ bellies” and typical pastries from Águeda.
14/ Águeda Portugal, At Escola restaurant:
Restaurant A Escola is a restaurant with typical cuisine from Serra do Caramulo. It is located in the former primary school of Macieira de Alcôba.
In this restaurant you can find the best mountain cuisine with typical dishes cooked in a wood oven. The environment makes us think of the days spent in a classroom, without missing the old slate frame where the menu is now written.
15/ Águeda Portugal, Restaurante Vidal:
Discover the Portuguese menu of this restaurant. Take a break at Restaurante Vidal and sample monkfish and delicious salads. Good fruit cakes and tasty coconut cakes may be what you need. Many visitors order an excellent cortado.
Cheerful staff work hard, stay positive and make this place wonderful. This place is notable for its fabulous service. You will certainly appreciate the comfortable atmosphere and the family decor. 4.6 is what this restaurant got from the Google rating system.
16/ Águeda Portugal, The songbook museum (“Casa Museu do Cancioneiro”):
This 18th-century townhouse is filled with furniture, art and porcelain from another historic property, the Casa da Alta Vila, and shows you the life of Águeda’s wealthy in the early 20th century .
Each room gives you insight into table etiquette, religious customs, or craftsmanship, and some rooms feature mannequins wearing period clothing.
17/ Águeda Portugal, Aveiro:
There’s a lot going on in this town, 20 minutes east of Agueda.
On the edge of a lagoon, Aveiro is a maritime city that has water in its soul. The cityscape is criss-crossed by canals that can be navigated on gondola-style painted boats, called moliceiros. And on the quays of the old part of the city are charming Art Nouveau houses in pastel colors.
The big attraction is the Mosteiro de Jesus, a monastery with a connection to royalty and whose museum is full of religious art. But the Atlantic is on your doorstep and you are minutes from sandy beaches by the ocean and the lovely resort of Costa Nova.
18/ Águeda Portugal, Horse riding and walking:
Horse riding
If you like horse riding, you will find stables at Abrigo d’Aventura. They can teach you the basics and show you where to ride.
The walks
Águeda has many marked trails. For example, you can go towards Pateira de Fermentelos, walk along the Águeda River and then follow the road to the historic railway. This is just one example, but there are many other paths you can follow!
19/ Águeda Portugal, Stay well in Agueda!
Top hotels in Agueda:
Here is a list of some of the best places to stay in Águeda:
In Gold Hotel & Spa
In Gold Hotel & Spa is a 4-star hotel with a garden, terrace and shared lounge. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and free wifi.
Address: Rua Manuel de Sousa Carneiro 25.
Hotel Conde de Agueda
Hotel Conde de Águeda is located in the historic center of Águeda and offers panoramic views of the city, fields and mountains. Guests can have light meals on an outdoor terrace.
Address: Praça Conde de Águeda.
Bamboo Guesthouse
Bamboo Guest House has barbecue facilities and a garden. The rooms are fitted with a TV with cable channels, a coffee machine, a shower, free toiletries and a wardrobe. The rooms include a private bathroom. All units will provide guests with a microwave oven.
Address: Rua da Gandarinha 246 Paredes.
Residence Celeste
Residencial Celeste has a central location in Águeda. This comfortable hotel offers good-value accommodation with free wireless internet access and free parking.
Address: Rua da Misericórdia 713 (EN1).
Agueda Hostel & Friends
Águeda Hostel & Friends features barbecue facilities and a garden. The accommodation offers a shared kitchen and luggage storage for guests. There is also a terrace and a shared lounge. Continental and buffet breakfast options are available each morning.
Address: Rua Jose Maria Veloso 8.
Agueda, a green place that respects nature
Sustainable development
Being a 60% green space, Águeda is concerned with a more ecological way of life and bets on green alternatives to daily activities. Reducing waste and pollution, saving energy and adopting green alternatives have been important issues for many years.
Some of the actions undertaken by the municipality have been the recovery of waste, through education and the provision of different waste deposits (oil, batteries, old electronic devices, etc.). The city is now lit by LED lamps, an ecological alternative. On top of all this, the adoption of electric bikes and cars is on the rise, with several charging parks for these alternatives.
Health and security
The national entity for tourism in Portugal – “Turismo de Portugal” – has allowed each tourist establishment to follow its complementary training specific to COVID-19, in which it specifies the measures that must be guaranteed in each type of tourist establishment . This training gives the establishment a “quality label”.
In Águeda, the tourist office, as well as various tourist companies have undergone the training and guarantee that they are taking all possible measures to combat the virus. Every surface is disinfected, there is always alcohol so customers can disinfect their hands when entering and leaving, everyone must wear a mask and many other specific measures to ensure maximum care. All this to make you feel safer and more comfortable during your green trip to Águeda.
Story of a good practice
The new “Valuable Waste!” “, developed within the framework of the “ Águeda SM@RT City Lab ”, is an innovative solution for the management of solid urban waste. Its goal is for the community to separate the different packaging, thereby significantly increasing recycling levels. People can take their packaging and throw it into this innovative machine that works with PET plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles.
After throwing away the bottles, the machine gives you a ticket indicating the quantity of discarded packaging. This ticket gives you points (5 points for each PET plastic bottle, 3 for cans and 2 for glass bottles) which you can then use to redeem reusable bags, household recycling kits, coupons for local trade and many other opportunities!
FAQs:
Why visit Agueda?
It is a place with multiple landscapes, the city of colorful umbrellas, a green city full of life and amazing places to discover. Rivers and river parks, nature and sports, art and culture, and a gastronomy to die for. So how not to go there? If you have the chance, don’t miss it and have fun!
How to get from Porto to Agueda?
For your trip from Porto (Portugal) to Agueda (Portugal) with a distance of 41 mi, you can take 3 modes of transport, possibly combining carpooling, bus and/or train, and according to which the journey time will be significantly different.
Carpooling from Porto to Agueda
With Blablacar you will probably find drivers sharing a ride on the Porto-Agueda route.
Traveling by train between Porto and Agueda
It is not possible to travel directly by train from Porto to Agueda without changing trains but some trains run on the Porto-Aveiro and Aveiro-Agueda lines allowing you to make the entire journey by train only.
Urbano de Comboios de Portugal CP trains to Aveiro depart from Porto-São Bento station in Porto. Arrival in Aveiro is at Aveiro train station (0.7 mi from downtown). A connection or change is required in Aveiro where the regional train operated by Comboios de Portugal CP departs for Agueda.
Take a coach from Porto to Agueda
Even if it is not possible to travel Porto Agueda only by coach, there are other means of transport (train) that allow you to complete the Porto-Aveiro route.
You will board a FlixBus bus in Porto. The bus will drop you off at Aveiro bus station (0.1 mi from Aveiro, Portugal). Be sure to be on time at the Garagem Atlântico – R. de Alexandre Herculano bus station (0.4 mi from Porto) at least 15 minutes before the departure time for Aveiro.
Where to eat in Agueda?
Águeda is part of the “Bairrada” region, a region full of flavors.
Here is a list of some of the best places to eat in Águeda, other than the restaurants mentioned in the article.
Restaurante Os Tres Manos
At Restaurante Os Três Manos, you will find traditional Mediterranean & Portuguese food. Highly recommended!
Address: Rua Liberdade, Mourisca do Vouga.
Catorze 21
Excellent and not too expensive Portuguese dishes at Catorze 21!
Address: Rua Porto Moita: Rua Porto Moita.
Restaurante Manjar da Helena
At Restaurante Manjar da Helena you can really feel the great Portuguese atmosphere. The food here is exceptional.
Address: Rua Dr: Rua Dr. Manuel Pinto 8.
Best season to visit Agueda?
Worried about the influx of tourists or Agueda’s closing times when planning your trip? The best time to visit Agueda is when you can completely soak up the experience and not worry about those hassles. The climate of Agueda is favorable and the activities are excellent during this particular period. If you are wondering when to go to Agueda, then come and visit Agueda at the best time when you can have a memorable experience without having to worry about the little hassles.
The weather in Agueda in September-October: If you are considering the best time to visit Agueda, this period corresponds perfectly to your expectations. The weather is pleasant and sultry with the lowest temperature being around 45℉ and the hottest being a usual 93℉. Although a humidity of 72%, marks a good time to explore the best things to do in Agueda. Expect an average precipitation of 19.34mm.
Beaches in Agueda?
No, but in return you will be satisfied by the river beach of Alfusqueiro!
The temperatures are high, being home is boring, the beaches are full of people and it’s a different year because there’s more care, more vigilance, more essentials to pack in your bag, like a mask and disinfectant gel. However, the Aveiro region has corners that promise a much different scenario from this one. As an example, we present for you the river beach of Alfusqueiro.
Located near the Alfusqueiro River Bridge, on the road from Macieira de Alcoba to Valongo, it is one of the river parks of the municipality of Águeda. This beach is bathed by the clear and cold waters of the Alfusqueiro River, ideal for cooling off without haste. The sandbars allow safe dives for children, as the water is very shallow.
The hottest moments can be spent in the shade of straw umbrellas or trees that surround the beach, full of natural grass and fine sand on the shores. The view of the Caramulo mountain range does not go unnoticed and provides a backdrop for beautiful photos.
There is also a completely modernized support restaurant with a spectacular esplanade, a picnic area with shade and toilets, a wooden footbridge to cross the river and a large iron wheel. This beach has a parking lot with capacity for more than one hundred vehicles.
