Cattedrale di Aveiro (Aveiro Cathedral), Aveiro (must see)

Saint Dominic's Cathedral, also known as Aveiro Cathedral, holds a central position as the primary Catholic church. Originating as part of the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy of Aveiro, founded in 1423, the church underwent significant transformations over the centuries.

Originally constructed on the outskirts of the village with three naves and a main chapel, the church experienced expansions and enhancements between the 16th and 17th centuries. The side naves were transformed into chapels for stability, and subsequent renovations in the 18th century embraced the Baroque style. A bell tower stands against the façade, and a delicate Art Nouveau-style dome crowns the crossing of the transept, reflecting the 20th-century modifications by Portuguese architect Abrunhosa de Brito.

The façade, characterized by Mannerist elements, features a notable baroque door adorned with double columns and a tympanum representing figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Inside, the single nave displays 18th-century azulejos from the Coimbra cycle by Sousa Carvalho, depicting scenes related to Saint Dominic's life and episodes of the Marian liturgy.

The church houses two stone pulpits within the nave and notable side chapels from the Baroque period. Noteworthy elements include the tombs of Catarina de Ataíde, a stone retable representing the Visitation, and the Cross of Saint Domenico (late 15th century) in the first chapel on the left. The funerary chapel of João de Albuquerque and Renaissance-style paintings on the vaults in the apse chapels add further artistic richness. The main altar features an alabaster virgin from Nottingham within a rococo polychrome retable sourced from a demolished church.