Typical Moliceiro or Mercantel Boat Tour in Aveiro

based on 36 reviews

Duration:45 minutes (approx.)
Location: Porto, Northern Portugal

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The Moliceiro tour in Aveiro is the best way to visit the city! From a unique perspective, an aquatic road, you can get to know the stories, heritage and traditions of this beautiful city of canals.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
Visit the city of Aveiro on board one of your typical boats with a view of the 4 main urban canals. During the cruise you will have the company of our guides who will explain what you are seeing during the trip and will tell you some “secrets” of the beautiful city of Aveiro.
2.
Main channel of the city of Aveiro
3.
Partnership with Silva Rocha and Ernesto Korrodi is the practical translation of the originality and talent of the two artists, materialized in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Considered by all as an architectural "ex-libris", the richness of its facade results from the skillfully sculpted stone, combined with the art of wrought iron, one of the most representative materials of this artistic movement. Also noteworthy is the eagle that, from the top of the front elevation, enhances and enhances this architectural piece. Currently, the Museum of Art and a Tea House operate here, which at the end of the day becomes a night entertainment bar.
4.
Art Nouveau Major Pessoa House.
5.
The Captaincy building of the Port of Aveiro currently belongs to the Municipality of Aveiro. It is also known as “Capitania dos Arcos” and its history is really long. This building, whose first floor was built in 1830 on the arcades of a tidal mill, is one of the most emblematic in the city and is distinguished by its superior architectural quality. It functioned as a support building for the José Ferreira Pinto Basto porcelain factory, which founded the internationally known brand Vista Alegre. Later, in 1903 a second floor was built for the installation of the School of Industrial Design, which operated there until 1918. In the same year, it was sold to a private individual, with the side tile panel being placed. A few years later, in 1925, the building was sold to the Ministry of the Navy for Captaincy services. At the end of the 20th century, it underwent renovation works for the installation of the Municipal Assembly. Nowadays it also works as an art gallery.
6.
The Cultural and Congress Center is part of an emblematic building of Aveiro's industrial architecture. “Fábrica Jerónimo Pereira de Campos” is the old designation of this building, built between 1915 and 1917, according to a project by Architect José Olímpio. Since its opening in 1995, it has become a space par excellence for congresses, work meetings, exhibitions, concerts and plays. Currently, the building also houses the Institute of Employment and Professional Training, the Employment Center and the services of the Municipality of Aveiro. In the artificial lake is located the beautiful statue of "Maria da Fonte". In the sixties, a Puritan movement shocked by its nakedness removed the statue from the square where it was, to a more modest place (in Parque Infante D. Pedro). It was placed here much later, to give luck to young unmarried girls, and now rivals the Maneken Pis from Brussels and the Copenhagen mermaid in miraculous abilities.
7.
Sculptural set of 5 elements; 3 with the shapes used in traditional Aveiro egg sweets, the barrel, the mussel, the whelk; and two in a parallelepiped form where the configuration of the same elements can be seen, in an excavated mold, as if they had been removed. (Source: DRC Centro)
8.
Forum Aveiro, opened on September 29, 1998, was the first open-air shopping center in the country. Representing a new type of shopping center concept in Portugal, where gardens, green areas and public spaces predominate, it was presented to the public as an innovative shopping center. Forum Aveiro is located in the heart of the city of Aveiro and was awarded the "Mipim Award 1999" for the best shopping center in Europe and, in 2018, received the “Portugal Five Stars” award, in the category of “Shopping Centers of Portugal". (Source: mundicenter)
9.
The Salpoente restaurant, located on the Cais de São Roque, in Aveiro, brings together in one space two old Armazéns de Sal - historical heritage of the city. Salpoente is a tribute to the people and raw materials of the Ria de Aveiro region, recreated in an excellent cuisine. A poetry of flavors and feelings, through a modern and contemporary environment that pays homage to art, tradition and the creation of moments that endure time. (Source: Restaurante Salpoente)
10.
Set of four bronze statues placed at the four ends of the bridge over the Central Canal, currently Praça Humberto Delgado. All of them are full-length, yet have dimensions below the real. Each statue represents a traditional figure of the city, two of them from work, Salineira and Marnoto; and the remaining characteristics of the feast days: Parceira do Ramo and Fogueteiro. THE SALINEIRA: uses traditional costumes and a canasta on his head; MARNOTO: uses traditional labor costumes and instruments characteristic of the work of salt (branch); THE PARTNER OF THE BRANCH: wears the traditional feminine clothes of the feast day, sporting a long shawl. In his right hand he holds a bouquet of flowers that will be given to the new stewards; THE ROCKET: wears the traditional gabon, over the Sunday clothes, buckle shoes, cap and in the left hand the rocket. (Source: CMA)
11.
The tour takes place in the urban channels of the Ria de Aveiro. During the same we can glimpse the salt marshes of the Ria de Aveiro and observe the floodgates that control the water level within the city to prevent flooding.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : 827hanse
On our first day in Portugal we took this boat trip in Aveiro. It was said in advance that the guide was new, found it quite exciting and did not speak much English. But she did her best to explain everything to us and a German couple as best she could. She'll get there!
Boat trip itself was fine. Nice to see the city this way.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-09 12:32:23

Posted By : thainamarinead
The tour was spectacular. An unforgettable experience where Eui explained the entire route and brought many historical curiosities about the place. We can have fun and understand a little about the history of Aveiro as well as tips for getting to know the city and also new experiences. The pilot also drove the moliceiro with mastery. The tour was wonderful with attentive people and splendid curiosities.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-01-17 16:11:27

Posted By : 820gregk
Highly recommended. Entertaining tour guides, and you get to see a side of Aveiro you wouldn't see otherwise.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-08 11:28:27

Posted By : Virginia S
Our boat started off only half full which was good, although we picked up more people half way through. It was a very interesting cruise round the canals although a shame that there was quite a lot of building going on and some of the views up canals were spoilt by barriers along the banks. That was not, however, the fault of the cruise provider. Our guide was excellent govng us lots of onformation in perfect Portuguese, Spanish and English.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-15 10:17:54

Posted By : Blackth0rn
One of a number of boat tours touting for business around the canals of Aveiro, they all look to be much the same in terms of times and prices, and the only reason we went for this one was because it was the first one we stopped to look at and the ticket seller immediately dropped the price from €13 to €10 before we’d hardly started speaking.

The guide on the boat was friendly and jovial and did a good job of going round everyone and speaking in three or four different languages. We were the only two English speakers aboard, but in contrast to some of the other reviews, we didn’t feel that we were being short changed in any way.

The boat trip offers a good overview of the area, and whilst not especially scenic perhaps compared to some places, I thought it was well worth doing and the commentary came an interesting and useful overview of the surroundings.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-29 04:52:42

Posted By : Zena P
Guide was rude as soon as we got on the boat, he asked where we came from then when we told him he said he wasn’t interested in all our back history !!!!
Not very nice or appropriate.
The actual boat trip was lovely but maybe a review of your staff and what they say might be advisable.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-21 13:11:59

Posted By : krystel4960
Great family outings! We took the formula with tuk-tuk and visit to the salt flats then finished with a “moliceiro” visit to the Ria de Aveiro. The excuse was good but the explanations about the cake could have been better... because they were brief. We learned more things with the young man from the Tuk-tuk. But it really has to be done at least once. 👍 we paid €48 for 2 adults and 1 child aged 13.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-17 16:16:32

Posted By : skd22
We were approached by many for a boat ride. We had heard they are all the same and this company offered a discount so we picked this one. (In watching the other boat tours while on the water, they all do look the same). The boat was departing and we were quickly seated. First, this is no "Venice of Portugual". It is more like the river boat ride in San Antonio, TX. Our group had 5 different languages represented. The guide was imperssive and spoke all 5 and gave the tour one after the other. We could tell the English version was very short. It was quite boring waiting for your version. There isn't really much to see. The guide did go around and have every couple kiss while he took your camera and took a picture. We had 50+ pics and so did our son and his girlfriend. As the tour was coming to the end the guide had a small child on the tour come up and get the tip jar and then go around to each person and hold the tip jar in front of them unitl they put in a tip. In my opinion, no tip had been earned and this was just awkward. I would not recommend this boat trip or any others that we saw. This is a tourist trap at best.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-06-14 10:43:11

Posted By : cesarp624
The trip lasted around 45 minutes. It took us through some waterways showing the city's old and newer parts. I think the main difference was the guide. His name was Alex and he was clearly a showman talking to us in different languages and making us enjoy the ride.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-05-03 15:20:17

Posted By : F1312BUmaureeng
It was a lovely ride. Our guide was friend and spoke multiple languages so he was able to interact with many people!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-04-23 11:37:56