Aveiro isn’t all canals and salt. It also has a lot of public art to increase the happiness factor in visiting and/or living here. This (public art) was one of the first things we noticed upon our arrival, as we were greeted by the square-face sculpture below. We saw similar sculptures all over town. These are the work of Luís Queimadela, a Portugese artist based in São Pedro do Sul. The collection of 14 sculptures throughout Aveiro is titled “InVitro” and was installed in 2009.
This piece is the first one we saw, as it is installed right outside the train station.This one is installed on the Main Street through town from the train station.Another installation along the Main StreetThis one we found in a park at the end of the Canal do CôjoThis one is on the campus of the University of Aveiro
We obviously need to return to Aveiro, as we didn’t find the whole set! We did stumble on some other pieces though —
This marble sculpture caught our eye, but we also really liked the bright colors of the houses behind it.A bird-like metal sculpture on the university campus In addition to sculptural art, there was unusual brickwork, painting, tile mosaics, etc. Aveiro is such a beautiful city anyway, and the art just adds to its charm.
We found this and really liked it. Also provided another Big Head moment for Bob. This was created by Vhils, a Portugese street artist whose real name is Alexandre Manuel Dias Farto. Really.Saying it loud and proud — and we do tooThis is a mural under a bridge in the renovated area along the canal. Per our narrator on our boat trip it portrays a local man (still living) dubbed the “shark” for saving so many people from drowning prior to the establishment of lifeguards along the beach near AveiroA ceramic tiled mosaic portraying the history of the canals Flying fabric fish over a street in the older section of town
Peckish Travels 