Spending a night at the Ria Aveiro Pousada is like sleeping on the high seas, whilst keeping your feet firmly on dry land. Lying on the bed of one of the 12 rooms overlooking the estuary, all that guests can see is water. This is both natural, by design and a consequence of staying in rooms with balconies that give you the feeling that the two-storey building is levitating slightly.
The pousada was inaugurated in 1962 with a different name and layout. “It started with just the front façade of 12 rooms facing the ria and grew,” says manager Arlindo Tavares. In 1987, the south wing was built, which gives the pousada its current L-shape. “This expansion increased capacity to 19 rooms. Six years ago, using a space for logistics, we created five more rooms,” he says.
These also have a view of the estuary and a balcony but face a small garden. The manager calls it “my little big inn” because “we’re possibly the Grupo Pestana pousada with the fewest rooms.” There may be few rooms, but quality is of the highest order, with a restaurant, bar, lounge, outdoor pool, dock and even a private mini beach.
What about the name? When it first opened, it was called Santa Joana Princesa Pousada, in honour of Aveiro’s patron saint. The only thing is, the pousada belongs to the municipality of Murtosa, and not Aveiro. Supposedly, the name Pousada da Ria was chosen by the then Prime Minister, António Salazar, who was a regular guest. “This pousada was quite important at the time, as demonstrated by Admiral Américo Tomás’ frequent stays”, says Tavares, whose personal history entwines with that of the hotel, what with him being a local lad and his father having worked on maintaining the building. “I was practically born here.”
When the pandemic occurred, the temporary closure was used to renovate the pousada’s 24 rooms. And if they look new, it’s because they are. “We changed the furniture and the TVs.” The rest remains unchanged since 1962, with wood, granite and iron shaping a Swiss chalet style that became popular in the following decade.
Essentials
