The beach at Figueira da Foz is very special, it is a long white fine sand beach. Known under the name of Beach of the Light, this vast extent of sand was the aristocracy's favorite place at the end of the 19th century. The natural conditions of the city are great for numerous sport activities, like for example the mini Beach Football World cup in July and August, surfing, windsurfing, tennis, horse riding, all these activities attract lots of tourists to Figueira da Foz.
There is also a Casino, which offers a variety of shows as well as different types of games, bars, cafés, discotheques, restaurants and a Cinema Festival. Figueira da Foz is a good place for a lunch-break.
The city boasts of several sites and monuments of interest, such as the Sotto Mayor Palace, surrounded by beautiful gardens in the French style, the Convent and Church of Saint Anthony, founded in the 16th century, the Mother Church of Saint Julian, the 17th century Casa do Paço palace and the fortress of Saint Catherine (16th century), among others.
 |
 |
 |
Sa.Catarina |
Convento de S.António |
Sotto Mayor Palace |
- Igreja e Convento do S.António, built in the 16th century but well improved since. It has 18th century altarpieces.
- Igreja do S.Julião, the well restored parochial church, originally dating back to 1096.
- Sotto Mayor Palace, a French style manor house from the beginning of the 20th century. It is surrounded by a garden.
- Casa do Paço. Overlooking the river, its walls are lined with no less than 8,000 Delft azulejo tiles taken from a shipwreck in the late 17th century.
- Santa Catarina Fort
The 16th-century triangular fortress at the northern end of the bay was used by the Duke of Wellington during his brief stay. It was part of a group of defensive fortifications along with the Buarcos Fort and the small fort of Palheiros. It lost its military status in the 19th century and only its beacon remained, to help with navigation and guide boats into the harbour. Inside there is a small 17th century chapel dedicated to Santa Catarina, with a typical fortress formation, and an 18th century altarpiece. Both monuments were classified in 1961.
- Dr Santos Rocha Municipal Museum
It displays
a notable archeological collection, African and oriental ethnography, numismatics, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, weapons, carpets and photographs. It was created in 1894.
When leaving Figueira da Foz, you must follow the signs to Porto N109 and cross a whole very beautiful and still very agricultural region where there are seaside villages which liven up during the summer and are lined by pine forests. You will drive through small villages with beautiful modern houses, but also older ones, where the fronts are covered with azulejos from the beginning of the century, some very beautiful with "art nouveau and déco art" designs.
All this region is very rich with the production of ceramic and china, that's why we suggest you stop in the village of Vista Alegre, before Ílhavo, to visit its porcelain museum. The name "Vista Alegre" is not only the factory's but also the most renowned china in Portugal. This museum was created in 1910 and you can see china and crystal there from different times made by this factory, it was created in 1824. Today Vista Alegre is considered as one of the most important porcelain factories in the world.
In Portugal, the company is leader in the market, and its china is appreciated by the experts, museums, presidents, kings and shops all over the world. Next to the museum there is a giftshop that sells some chinaware.
 |
Praia de Ílhavo |
After this visit we continue to Aveiro, past Ílhavo, a former fishermen's town where there is a very interesting sea museum. History tells us that the inhabitants of Ilhavo are descendants of the former navigators.
