Costa Nova Striped Houses

Costa Nova is a small seaside village on a narrow spit between the Ria de Aveiro lagoon and the Atlantic, known for its palheiros -- traditional fishermen's houses painted in bold red, blue, green, or yellow horizontal stripes. Originally built as simple wooden storage huts and seasonal fishing dwellings, many have since been converted into holiday homes and small guesthouses, while retaining their distinctive painted facades. Visitors typically spend one to two hours strolling the main street of striped houses, Rua Arrais Ançã, before crossing the dunes to the wide Atlantic beach on the other side of the spit for a walk or swim. The contrast between the calm lagoon side, where small boats moor, and the open ocean beach a short walk away is part of the village's appeal. Late afternoon light works well for photographing the stripes against the sky, and the beach is a good spot to watch the sunset over the Atlantic. Costa Nova gets busy with day-trippers from Aveiro in July and August, when parking near the main street fills quickly, so arriving by bus or early in the day is more comfortable. A handful of seafood restaurants along the lagoon front serve fresh catch, including the region's typical eel dishes.