When you hear about Ovar, the name is often associated directly with the great Carnival Corsican that annually walks its streets and attracts thousands of spectators. However, Ovar, both the city and the municipality with the same name, have much more to present. Known as The Cidade Museu-Vivo do Azulejo, it got its name due to the tile patterns spread throughout the city. Living Tile City-Museum, got this name because of the many tiles spread through the city.
For those who want to visit Ovar, this article shows some of the main places to visit in this great municipality. The script is presented in the order in which we think it is more practical for those coming from the South, as was our case, but it can be readapted according to different situations.
Valega Church (Igreja de Válega)
Considered one of the Most Beautiful Churches in Portugal, Church of Santa Maria de Válega localiza-se na Freguesia de Válega, Concelho de Ovar. Esta destaca-se pela sua frente em azulejo, todo ela pintada à mão.
Este cenário exterior é complementado no interior. Aí, juntamente com os azulejos que apresentam passagens e referências bíblicas, destaca-se também o teto de madeira, importada do Brasil.
Logo, as suas características fazem desta capela uma das mais procuradas por turistas, que procuram conhecer a beleza desta Igreja. A sua visão mais bonita ocorre, frequentemente, ao pôr do sol, quando a luz incide diretamente para a fachada da Igreja, assemelhando-se a uma pintura divina.
You can learn more about this destination in the existing article here.
2. Ovar center
Distance from the Church of Válega to the Center of Ovar: 6km
It is in the Center of Ovar that we find some of the most beautiful tile panels. The best place to start searching for tiles is at Praça da República (Republic Square), in front of the Municipality of Ovar, where a route begins that follows some streets covered with tiles, in the direction of the Church of Santo António, as in the image.
Percorrendo as ruas do centro, encontramos, em seguida, várias fachadas que merecem atenção. Um exemplo é a São Cristóvão de Ovar Church (a 500 meters walk from Praça da República), also known for its blue tile facade.
Also at the cultural level, there are some destinations that deserve to be highlighted, such as the Third Order of San Francisco House Museum (350 meters on foot), a museum of sacred art whose opening hours can be consulted here.
Here too we can find the Ovar Museum, (at 160 meters on foot) that has a permanent exhibition where they seek to represent the typical "vareira house" (typical of the region). Opening hours and other information can be consulted here.
Finally, regarding museums, there is the Júlio Dinis House Museum (a 300 metros a pé). Esta procura mostra a influência nas suas obras como resultado da sua passagem pela cidade e a influência desse tempo. Podem consultar o horário de funcionamento here.
Still in the center, 130 meters walk from Republic Square, we find the Judicial Court of Ovar. The access to this place is made by a grand staircase that leads to a corridor full of different tiled facades, as in the image.
The urban park of Ovar has a total area of 7,5 acre
Por último, antes de sair do Centro de Ovar tem de passar pelo Urban Park of Ovar. Este localiza-se imediatamente junto à Igreja Paroquial de São Cristóvão de Ovar, a 550 metros a pé da Praça da República.
The park, opened since 2013, has a total area of 7,5 hectares. In addition to a lot of lawns the park also has several paths and different elements, offering a good walk through nature. In this place, the Caster River is a main element of the landscape.
Ovar Center still has more to offer, and so, before you leave the center, we recommend an additional walk through its streets, also to discover the different chapels scattered around it. But the municipality of Ovar has other wonders to be presented, so we continue on our way to the area next to the coast.
3. beaches
Distance from Ovar Center to Furadouro: 5km
Leaving the Ovar Center towards the coast, we follow a large avenue whose destination is one of the most frequented beaches in the region: Furadouro Beach.
Heading north, always along the coast, about 11km, already on the edge of the municipality, we find the Cortegaça Beach, another good destination to rest on a hot afternoon.
Another kilometer to the north and we find the Esmoriz Beach. In this destination, in addition to visiting the beach, you can also take a walk in the so-called Walkways of the Barrinha de Esmoriz. These are a set of walkways built in a nature reserve, about 8km in total length around a lake.
4. buçaquinho environmental park
Distance from Esmoriz Beach to the Park: 2km
Located on the border between Esmoriz and Cortegaça, we find the Buçaquinho Environmental Park. With a total area of 24 hectares, this Park has the perfect environment and characteristics for a walk.
In addition to the various paths in the middle of the trees, the park also comprises a lake, several picnic spaces, artistic and park observation facilities and an observation tower. Being a place with a great density in terms of trees, walking through Buçaquinho Park leads to each curve resulting in a new discovery of something more to know. It is the perfect destination for an afternoon of rest.
You can find out more about this destination in the blog article about the destination here.
5. Cortegaça Church
Distance from Buçaquinho Park to the Church: 2km
The Santa Marinha of Cortegaça Church it is a construction from the beginning of the 20th century, standing out, as well as Válega Church, for its tile covering - although this one is more discreet due to the constant use of blue and white.
In front of the Church, in addition to a large corridor filled with palm trees, there are also tumbstones that show signs of abandonment, it is called the Old Cemetery.
This destination being at the end of the municipality of Ovar, and having already seen the places mentioned above, our visit ended here. Ovar is thus registered as a municipality with a lot to offer, where the beauty of the tiles and the natural landscapes are around every corner, you just need to pay attention.
more to see
Get to know more about the mentioned destinations and surroundings
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Artigo esclarecedor e de agradável leitura, que convida realmente a visitar a bela região de Ovar. Por isso mesmo, remeto para ele no meu blog, onde chamo a atenção para a exposição “160 ANOS DA CHEGADA DE JÚLIO DINIS A OVAR – 7 DE MAIO DE 1863/2023”.
Muito obrigado Fernanda! Agradecemos imenso o seu comentário e é com gosto que viramos a atenção para a mencionada exposição, bem como o seu blog.
Obrigada! É um prazer navegar por este ciberespaço. Continuarei acompanhando as vossas aventuras, à distância…
Talvez uma futura viagem à Ilha da Madeira?
Júlio Dinis (Diana de Aveleda) também nos legou uma descrição encantadora da sua chegada a essa Ilha maravilhosa.
Pelo menos algumas ilhas dos Açores já mereceram a nossa visita (mega aventura a ser partilhada em breve!). A ilha da Madeira está sem dúvida também na nossa lista 😊
Agradeço a informação. Alegro-me, desde já. Os Açores também são lindíssimos!