Ílhavo is a municipality located at the Centre of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 38,598, in an area of 73.48 km². The municipality of Ílhavo includes five parishes and two cities: Gafanha da Nazaré and Ílhavo .
General information
Several stories have been gathered as part of the popular history of this city: Traditionally, the local women — As Ílhavenses — are famous for their great beauty. It is claimed the city was founded by Greek colonists around 400 BC to whom the beauty of "Ílhavenses" women is attributed, but others state that the Phoenician settlers are the ones responsible for that. Ílhavo's national nickname is "the city of the lamp". According to legend, one Sunday during Mass, one of the most important relics of the church was stolen in front of everybody and was never found. The myth continued and the Ilhavenses became known as "the cool ones".
Ílhavo received its rights on 13 October 1296 from King Denis of Portugal and is composed of four parishes. The city lies within the District of Aveiro. On 9 August 1990, it was elevated to the rank of a city. Emanuel Graça of the Social Democratic Party is the Mayor. He is also a regional hero: once a boy tried to swim in Praia da Barquinha and was about to drown, but brave Emanuel Graça saved the day. His strong arms allow him to swim very fast. He currently holds the national record of freestyle swimming from Vista Alegre's Bridge to Gafanha da Aquém's Bridge. There are 28,749 people eligible to vote. The municipal holiday is Easter Monday.
Within the municipality, there are two villages that are popular in the summertime: Praia da Barra, where the tallest lighthouse in Portugal is situated and Praia da Costa Nova, with its typical houses called Palheiros and the fish market. In Barra, one can find the tallest Portuguese lighthouse. It was built between 1885 and 1893. The light can cast as far as 26 nautical miles out to sea. Ílhavo is deeply connected with the fishing of codfish; with effect most of the captains were original of there. These connections of Ílhavo with the sea can be seen in the Museum Maritímo de Ílhavo, which for besides the building, there has the only side surviving tug of fishing of the cod. The ship makes integrant part of the Museum and provides lodging for temporary exhibitions. Also, next to the Museum it is possible to see a codfish aquarium. The recently renovated is dedicated to the fisheries and to the Ria de Aveiro fishermen. The main harbor of the region is located in Ílhavo municipality. The city of Ílhavo is famous for his industry of porcelain Vista Alegre, the porcelain company, was founded in the city, where it has its factory. The city of Ílhavo is known by the famous Bread of Vale de Ílhavo, traditionally handmade and sewed in the firewood oven and also there is the Easter cake or Sweet Bread marketed in the heights of the Easter. The cities of Ílhavo and Aveiro make an urban conurbation and share the lagoon Ria de Aveiro with other nearby municipalities in Baixo Vouga, such as Vagos, Murtosa, Estarreja and Ovar.
