Costa Nova do Prado, known for its colorful "Palheiros"—houses painted with colorful stripes on a white background—is also the birthplace of the regional sweet "Tripa." The fish and seafood sold at the fish market or served at local restaurants such as Dom Fernando are also highly regarded.
Costa Nova has a large fishing community. Facing both the sea and the estuary, it serves as a natural amphitheater for a variety of water sports. The beach has held Blue Flag certification since 1989 and has also been designated an Accessible Beach and a Beach for All since 2002. On land, sports are also common, on the boardwalks, promenades, bike paths, or at the various outdoor sports facilities available.
After the bar across the Ria de Aveiro was established in 1808, fishermen from the Ílhavo fishing companies gradually moved to Costa Nova and began building wooden sheds, as wood was abundant and easy to transport. These served as shelters, dwellings, and, later, as warehouses for salting or drying fish.
Initially untreated, they were the color of wood. To protect them from the elements, they were gradually coated with a fish-oil-based compound mixed with natural pigments. They turned reddish-ochre and black, and the custom of alternating colors on the boards of the haylofts took hold.
Starting in the 20th century, Costa Nova—nestled between the estuary and the sea—began to attract writers, politicians, the middle class, and even the common people. In some cases, adobe was introduced, leading to the construction of multi-story haylofts equipped with doors, windows, and even chimneys. These barns, imbued with a new spirit associated with new forms of leisure, began to be decorated with colorful stripes on a white background, transforming into dwellings.
Along the Costa Nova waterfront, the Mira Channel of the Ria de Aveiro flows alternately northward or southward, driven by the force of the tides. An inexhaustible source of inspiration for writers, photographers, and others, who tend to romantically appreciate its ever-changing light and brilliance, the Mira Canal also inspires countless athletes and enthusiasts of sailing, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, kitesurfing, and other water sports practiced in this area. It is also a source of life for the local fishing community, which is dedicated here to both artisanal fishing and the harvesting or farming of shellfish.
