Arouca is a town located in the Arouca Geopark, in the vicinity of the picturesque canyon of the Paiva River. Its surroundings are perfect for active tourism, especially field trips.
The city has a nicely preserved center with whitewashed stone-trimmed houses covered with tiles. Visiting Arouca, you can visit the Museum of the Arouca Monastery, which collects works of sacred art from the 12th to 18th centuries. In the area there are small villages and towns scattered among greenery scattered on the slopes of the mountains. One of the most picturesque places here is the village of Drave with its stone houses, looking like it hugs a mountain slope.
The landscape values are the greatest attraction of Arouca. The local geopark belongs to the European network of such facilities. Especially picturesque are the routes along the canyon, known as the Paiva river sidewalks. The 516 m long Paiva suspension bridge was opened in the gorge in 2021. It is the longest suspension bridge in the world. You can also swim in the river in the park, and the Vau river beach is the most popular.
