Murtosa brings together a waterside landscape, trails and fishing history with a distinctive local history. At Praia do Bico, the Ria de Aveiro and NaturRia take centre stage; Arte Xávega, the COMUR – Municipal Museum and historic churches offer different perspectives. For your stay, you can choose to focus on nature, trails, maritime tradition or architectural history.

Ria, Beach and Nature Trail

Praia do Bico lies on the Canal da Murtosa of the Ria de Aveiro, in the parish of Murtosa. In 2016, it was granted designated bathing area status. It is also part of the NaturRia nature trail, which visitors can explore; the natural surroundings are particularly rich in species. The beach is therefore associated not only with a bathing area, but also with a nature trail and a biodiverse landscape.

Praia do Bico is accessible to people with reduced mobility. If you rely on specific access arrangements, check them before your visit.

Easy Trails of Different Lengths

Two trails offer a clear comparison of distances. The Percurso do Canal da Murtosa is an 11.6-kilometre circular route in the parish of Murtosa. The Percurso dos Campos da Ria is 15.5 kilometres long and passes through the parishes of Bunheiro and Murtosa. Both routes are rated easy. The Canal trail is the shorter circular option; the longer route crosses two parish areas.

Distance and route type therefore give you more precise points of comparison than the shared difficulty rating. Trail conditions can change, so it is worth checking them before setting out.

Fishing: A Living Practice and a Part of History

Arte Xávega can still be seen today on Murtosa’s beaches; the conditions for observing it may vary seasonally. Today, tractors rather than oxen haul the nets ashore. This change in hauling method shows how a traditional form of fishing that can still be observed has evolved.

Historically, Arte Xávega was the first form of fishing practised in the settlement. As an artisanal fishery, it was the residents’ only means of subsistence. Its former role differs from its present-day visibility: one describes the historical importance of the fishery, while the other refers to a practice that can still be seen on Murtosa’s beaches today.

For much of the 20th century, Cais do Bico was an important point for embarkation, disembarkation and trade. The COMUR – Municipal Museum preserves the memory of eel canning in Murtosa. After its museum exhibits were installed, the museum opened to the public on 21 February 2015.

Churches and the Development of Vila Murtosa

Igreja de São Lourenço was inaugurated on 19 November 1939; the parish of São Lourenço was also established that day. Together with Praça Jaime Afreixo, the church forms a historically and symbolically significant ensemble that reflects the religious, commercial and urban development of Vila Murtosa.

Igreja Matriz da Murtosa is a Baroque church dating from the first half of the 18th century. In comparison, it points to an earlier period than Igreja de São Lourenço, which was inaugurated in 1939. The two churches offer different ways to understand Murtosa’s architecture and local history.

Discover more destinations: Oiã, Monte, Espinhel, Anadia, Eixo, Canedo, Vila Nova de Monsarros, Travanca

Go to the main travel overview: Aveiro.