about the place
Albergaria-a-Velha is a municipality in the District of Aveiro, in the Aveiro Region (Centre), covering 158.83 km² and home to 24,840 inhabitants (2021 census). The place name Albergaria means 'inn to shelter travellers': in 1117, D. Teresa granted lands to the nobleman Gonçalo Eriz, who pledged to keep an inn open to receive poor travellers. The Carta do Couto de Osselôa, from that time, is regarded as the birth certificate of the land. The municipality dates from 1835 and its seat was raised to city status on 6 April 2011. It comprises six parishes: Albergaria-a-Velha e Valmaior, Alquerubim, Angeja, Branca, Ribeira de Fráguas and São João de Loure e Frossos. The municipal holiday falls on the Monday following the third Sunday of August.
