Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal

Oliveira de Azeméis is a manufacturing town located thirty minutes south of Porto and twenty minutes from the coastline. This understated town garners attention each May during the Mercado à Moda Antiga, a traditional market and fair that transforms the town center for two days.

The local attraction that will leave a lasting impression is the Parque La Salette. This cultured park, situated on a hill, is centered around a chapel built in the 19th century to commemorate the Marian apparition in La Salette, France. The municipality offers several points of interest to explore, including a centuries-old watermill and bakery, in addition to a quirky museum filled with an eclectic assortment of both ancient and contemporary exhibits.

Let us delve into the best activities in Oliveira de Azeméis:

1. Parque La Salette

Oliveira de Azeméis takes pride in this park located on a hill to the east of the town. The park was landscaped around the turn of the 20th century and features grand stairways, a gazebo, and a balustraded terrace offering panoramic views of the town.

Given its elevated position, the park provides breathtaking vistas that extend as far as the city of São João da Madeira to the north. Visitors are likely to return multiple times, as it offers various attractions and facilities such as an ornamental lake, a restaurant, café, a traditional glass-blowing workshop, a campsite, and diverse playgrounds.

2. Capela de Nossa Senhora de la Salette

The chapel in the park dates back to 1870. Legend has it that the town faced a prolonged drought, and on July 5 of that year, townsfolk organized a procession carrying an image of Holy Christ to Monte Crasto; upon reaching the site, rain began to fall.

An intriguing tale involves a thief who, during the chapel’s construction, stole a ring from the Marian image at the altar and was shot while attempting to steal the statue itself. Remarkably, he survived but lost the same finger that had worn the ring, which is grimly preserved in alcohol and displayed inside the chapel.

3. Parque Temático Molinológico

Located at the confluence of the Antuã and Ul Rivers, this mill demonstrates how water movements have been utilized for centuries to produce bread. The site has been operational for over two millennia, as indicated by preserved Roman milestones and tombstones.

The contemporary hydraulic system encompasses water wheels, dams, and channels, all employed to power a mill for grinding flour. The museum on site has maintained the grinding apparatus, allowing visitors to see it in operation.

Additional exhibits include 19th-century milling tools and bread-making equipment, as well as the original ovens, which are still utilized for baking bread.

4. Casa-Museu Regional de Oliveira de Azeméis

Aformer resident, João Marques de Almeida Carvalho, left both his residence and its contents to the town. The museum showcases an eclectic collection of items related to the Oliveira de Azeméis region, all housed within a historic home that retains its original decor and furnishings.

Exhibits include a lapidary collection, a newspaper archive, antique farming implements, taxidermy specimens, butterfly collections, vintage radios, and photographs from the early to mid-20th century.

The museum also features captivating archaeological artifacts from the Celtic Castros, Ul and Ossela, as well as black clay pottery and glassware from Oliveira de Azeméis’ Centro Vidriero factory.

5. Igreja Matriz de Oliveira de Azeméis

The town’s principal church showcases a late-Mannerist style from the early 18th century, situated on a terrace above a winding stairway. Its facade presents a reserved yet elegant architectural design featuring blue patterned tiles and a depiction of St. Michael defeating Satan in a niche above the entrance – a carving crafted in Coimbra in the 1400s, predating the church itself.

Inside, visitors can appreciate the beautifully crafted limestone baptismal font and the retable, which is flanked by intricate Solomonic columns.

6. Pinheiro da Bemposta

The former parish of Pinheiro da Bemposta lies within the municipal boundaries of Oliveira de Azeméis. This charming village is situated on elevated ground with scenic views of the Aveiro Lagoon, the city of Ovar, and even the Atlantic Ocean.

As the oldest settlement in the Oliveira de Azeméis region, it was once the principal town in the municipality, receiving its charter from King Manuel I in 1514. The parish church merits exploration, as does the picturesque chapel, which we will discuss shortly.

Notably, the 16th-century pillory located by the former town hall is a fascinating historical artifact that was once utilized for public punishment. Crafted in a workshop in Coimbra, it features both King Manuel’s coat of arms and his symbolic armillary sphere.

7. Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ribeira

This chapel is nestled in a tranquil green area where the Antuã River converges with a stream. Its architecture reflects the modest Mannerist style popularized in the latter half of the 1500s.

Although the chapel fell into disrepair during the 19th century, a local businessman who prospered in Brazil funded its renovation. The most striking feature is the tabernacle, framed by four columns with niches dedicated to Mary (Nossa Senhora da Ribeira) and various saints.

Additionally, 15 frescoes illustrating Marian and biblical themes were discovered, having faded into obscurity until their rediscovery in the 1970s.

8. Mercado à Moda Antiga

Now in its second decade, this annual vintage market aims to attract visitors to the town. Since its inception in 1997, it has grown significantly, covering over 38,000 square meters and attracting more than 60,000 visitors to Oliveira de Azeméis.

This event occurs in mid-May, featuring hundreds of stalls offering regional handicrafts, fruits, vegetables, and local delicacies. Vendors are adorned in period attire from the early 20th century, with nuns preparing traditional convent sweets.

The event includes traditional dances, parades, street performances, and evening concerts featuring renowned Portuguese artists (notably fado singer Carminho performed in 2016).

9. Igreja Paroquial de Várlega

This church ranks among the most aesthetically pleasing in the nation, celebrated for the vibrantly colored tile panels adorning its facade and interior. Its foundational architecture dates back to the mid-18th century, initially presenting as an unassuming structure until it underwent an extensive renovation in the mid-20th century funded by a wealthy local couple.

The couple adorned the church with Technicolor azulejos, new windows, and an elaborate coffered ceiling fashioned from exotic woods. The figurative tile panels were crafted and painted at the Aleluia in Aveiro, while the ornate stained-glass windows originate from Madrid.

Visiting during sunset allows the sun to cast a warm glow on the beautiful tiles, enhancing their colors.

10. Praia Fluvial Burgães

In the neighboring town of Vale de Cambra, a dam on the Caima River has formed an inviting natural pool and beach for summer recreation. The water has flowed from the Serra da Freita mountain range, cascading over the Frecha da Mizarela waterfall adjacent to the beach.

This beach is monitored by lifeguards and is bordered by trees and a spacious grassy area, ideal for relaxing in the shade. Families can enjoy the playground, while teenagers can engage in sports activities such as beach volleyball.

11. Cascata da Cabreia

Located southeast of Oliveira de Azeméis, the Serra da Cabreia is adorned with deciduous forest and conceals a romantic beauty spot known as the Cascata da Cabreia, a 25-meter waterfall flowing along the River Mau.

This secluded area offers various walking trails and a nearby picnic garden equipped with tables and stone barbecues. The optimal time for a visit is post-rainfall in autumn when the waterfall flows more vigorously, although the lush woodland remains enticing during the summer months.

12. Casa-Museu Ferreira de Castro

Those interested in 20th-century Portuguese literature may appreciate that the renowned writer José Maria Ferreira de Castro was born in this town. His most notable work, A Selva (The Forest), is a 1930 novel depicting life on a Brazilian rubber plantation.

He was born in a modest rural dwelling in a rural landscape filled with vineyards. The ground floor of the museum preserves 19th-century rural life through antique farming tools, including a wine press.

On the upper level, memorabilia from the author’s career showcases his books, manuscripts, and personal artifacts, such as the bag and gloves he used during his round-the-world trip documented in his travel book A Volta ao Mundo in 1939.

13. Praia do Furadouro

The coastline is approximately twenty minutes away by car, a journey worth undertaking to experience the Atlantic’s untamed beauty. This three-kilometer-long beach is lined with pine trees, dunes, and a small tourist community.

While the water tends to be cold and waves formidable, the beach serves more as a place for sunbathing on a splendid stretch of soft sand rather than swimming. For water activities, the northern shores of the Aveiro Lagoon are accessible, offering warm, shallow waters suitable for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

14. São João da Madeira

Although not a conventional tourist hotspot, São João da Madeira is a vibrant manufacturing city aiming to attract a different type of visitor. Numerous factories have begun offering tours that provide an authentic glimpse into production processes, akin to a live episode of “How It’s Made.”

A highlight is the Torre da Oliva building, a stunningly converted factory where you can plan your visit. Of particular note is Viarco, a high-end pencil manufacturer producing top-grade drawing instruments for artists and architects.

The Torre da Oliva also houses a footwear museum, commemorating the city’s robust shoe manufacturing industry, alongside an equally engaging museum dedicated to hat-making, located in another repurposed factory.

15. Gastronomy

The historical watermills in Oliveira de Azeméis have given rise to a distinctive local bread known as pão de Ul, which remains a staple in the region. Traditional winter meals typically feature lamb or veal roasted in a wood oven, along with baked salted cod or rojoada, which is a bean casserole complemented by potatoes and cold cuts.

Another dish to seek out is Arroz de suã, a rice dish simmered with pork and red wine. Moreover, the St. Michael’s Day celebrations in late September highlight a local specialty: Papas de São Miguel, a hearty broth made with white beans and pork marinated in garlic and red wine for two days.