A part of the colours and beauty of Aveiro is inseparable from the famous haystacks of Costa Nova. These traditional structures were used by fishermen to store their fishing materials and have also been used as beach houses throughout the years. Built near the beach, they welcome the sea with their façades painted in bright coloured stripes.
Be amazed by the warmth of the Costa Nova fishing spirit which is still very much present in its sand plains. Discover the beach, the town and the history of this area. You can also visit other beaches near-by like the Vagueira and Mira beaches. A true journey back in time!
Throughout the 19th century, fishermen from Ílhavo began to move to Costa Nova because the new shore line gave them easier access to sea than in São Jacinto. So, they began to build haystacks, storages and shelters for the seamen and the fishing boats of the Lagoon. The first haystacks were built with local materials and stood on top of stakes pitched on the dry sand of Costa Nova. The outside planks were horizontal and painted in bright red welcoming the sea with colour and energy. The interior space was wide and didn’t have any divisions as it was simply a storage house. As the years went by, some fishermen began to transform the haystacks and turned them into living spaces where several families would live during the summer.
