Region - Shellter Vieira Apartments

SHELLTER Vieira Apartments - Praia Beach

Go and explore.

Get inspired by the avieiros* and explore a region rich in heritage, nature and culture. Vieira beach is the starting point for an unforgettable vacation.

Vieira beach.

Located between the Lis river and the pine forest of Leiria, Vieira beach is a land of fishermen, where the “Xávega” is still powerful. Here, the sun sets calmly on the wild waves, which remind us the strength and importance of the sea. It’s in Vieira that you learn to tame it – in the fishing, surfing and bodyboarding.

What to do in Vieira beach?

Besides admiring the “Xávega” and buy fresh fish right in the beach or in the local market, at Vieira you can practice water sports such as surfing or bodyboarding. Enjoy the local cuisine, especially the famous Arroz de Marisco (Seafood Rice), one of the 7 Wonders of Portuguese Gastronomy.

Vieira beach also means fun. In the summer, the bars attract thousands of young people from the region who spend their holidays here. The Mariparque waterpark is another local attraction and has attractions for the whole family such as water slides or toboggan runs and even radical activities, which include aquaball, orienteeing or climbing.

Vieira is also history.

The “Xávega” is a type of artisanal fishing made with a purse seine net, in which a boat goes out to sea leaving the net stuck in the sand. Hundreds of meters from the shore, the boat turns and gets back to a place close to the starting point, so that the net is then pulled by tractors to the beach, allowing the fish to be collected. In the past, nets were pulled by oxen.

This type of fishing is practiced on several Portuguese beaches. In addition to Vieira beach, the “Xávega” is practiced at Espinho (near Porto), Nazaré, Torreira (Murtosa, near Aveiro), Vagueira (Vagos, near Aveiro), Mira, Tocha, Pedrogão, Saúde and Fonte da Telha ( Almada, near Lisbon) and Meia Praia, in the Algarve.

The strong fishing tradition led the inhabitants of Vieira to look for an alternative to live in the winter months: the Tagus estuary. This migratory phenomenon started over a hundred years ago. In the regions of Santarém and Lisbon they are called “avieiros”: some have settled here, turning the small boats into houses. It was a modest life, but safer compared to the austere sea fishing.

The region.

The Center of Portugal is made up of 100 incredible municipalities. From the sea to the mountains, this is the most diverse region in the country and, therefore, the richest. The Leiria and Oeste (West) regions are worth a visit. Here you can find beaches, caves, castles, monasteries and World Heritage sites. There are 100 reasons to explore!

What to do in this region?

Shellter (and Vieira beach) are close to the main points of interest of the Center region. Beaches, nature and World Heritage sites are less than an hour away.

From Figueira da Foz to Nazaré, passing through Leiria, Fátima or Tomar, this is the destination for a perfect vacation.