Moliceiro Boat Cruise in Aveiro

Explore the picturesque canals of the so-called Portuguese Venice with our traditional moliceiro or mercantel boat trip along the Aveiro.

Moliceiro or Mercantel Boat Trip

Meet us at the Jardim do Rossio Pier for our traditional boat trip through Aveiro. Throughout the journey, we will explore the differences between the moliceiro vessel and the mercantile vessel, including their origins and history.

During the trip on the moliceiro, we will pass iconic locations in Aveiro such as the Art Nouveau style buildings along the canal, the Aveiro salt pan, the traditional fishermen's neighborhood, the Jerónimo P. Campos ceramics factory, and the Fish Market.

Our itinerary concludes with a return to the departure point, and participants will be invited to taste raivas, a typical local cookie.

Type of Boats

Depending on boat availability, we will use either a moliceiro or a mercantel, both typical of the city.

A moliceiro is a traditional boat of the Ria de Aveiro, resembling a Venetian gondola, named for its use in transporting moliço, a seaweed utilized as fertilizer. The mercantel ship was used for transporting sand and mud for the salt pans; it is larger than the moliceiro and features simpler decoration.