Arouca () is a town and a municipality in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, in the Norte Region of Portugal and in the Aveiro District. The population in 2011 was 22,359, in an area of . It had 20,383 electors in 2006. The population has grown from 7072 inhabitants in 1801.

The entire territory of Arouca is "Arouca Geopark" which is a member of the European Geoparks Network and Global Geoparks Network on account of its outstanding geological heritage, educational programs and projects, and promotion of geotourism.

History

The territory that became Arouca was settled by vestiges of pre-historic tribes, but it was in the Roman occupation that the first artifacts associated with settlement first appeared. From archaeological excavations, it is known that the area was settled late in the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (due to its distance from coastal and north–south accesses).

Geography

thumb|235px|The rural village of Tebilhão in the terraced foothills of Arouca

The Arouca is a fertile valley, almost entirely enclosed with a mountainous plateau, with only the western edge open to the rest of the country. To the north is the Serra do Gamarão, to the east the conic mountain of Mó and the Serra da Freita ao Sul, and to the south is the ridge of Montemuro (the highest point in the municipality). Here is situated the Pedra Posta, at approximately , relatively close to the Noninha.

  • Alvarenga
  • Arouca e Burgo
  • Cabreiros e Albergaria da Serra
  • Canelas e Espiunca
  • Chave
  • Covelo de Paivó e Janarde
  • Escariz
  • Fermedo
  • Mansores
  • Moldes
  • Rossas
  • Santa Eulália
  • São Miguel do Mato
  • Tropeço
  • Urrô
  • Várzea

Demographics

Culture

The municipal holiday is May 2 and it celebrates Saint Mafalda.

Architecture

The archaeological site of São João de Valinhas is located in Arouca.

Arouca 516

Arouca 516 is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the steep Paiva River gorge at Arouca Geopark. The bridge, opened in 2021, is the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge.

Notable people

  • Emmanuel d'Abreu (1708-1737), Roman Catholic priest in Goa and Macau, tortured and martyred by beheading
  • Pedro Costa (born 1981), Portuguese retired footballer who played 225 games
  • Simão Oliveira (born 2007), singer who represented Portugal in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

References

  • Municipality official website
  • Metropolitan Area of Porto
  • Coordination and Development Committee of the North Region
  • Tourism of Porto and Norte Region, Portugal
  • «Aqui é Arouca» – site
  • Fair of Harvests – site
  • Visit Arouca – Ajudamos a descobrir Arouca