The Arouca Geopark covers the entire area of Arouca municipality, integrating the European Geoparks Network which, under the protection of UNESCO, brings together all the territories considered geological heritage of humanity. Among the 41 identified geosites are to highlight the Parideiras Pedras da Castanheira, giant Canelas Trilobites and Paiva Valley Ichnofossils.
In mountainous territory, with altitudes that can reach over 1.000 meters in the Serra da Freita and Montemuro, crossed the river Arda, the Paiva and Paçô, the Arouca municipality is recognized by the wide variety of flora and fauna and you can visit unique sites as Frecha Misarela, waterfall with a height of about 75 meters, or enjoy the traces of mining activity in the region – the Roman gold mines and exploration of tungsten by the British and Germans during the 2nd World War.
For its natural features, the county offers excellent conditions for practicing water activities (canyoning, canoeing, climbing or rafting), as well as the discovery of dense network of existing footpaths.
Arouca, the county seat, is located in a green valley with the Monastery of Santa Maria de Arouca as the protagonist of the village. You can visit the Museum of Sacred Art of Arouca, essentially consisting of the former convent of Arouca objects, this museum contains valuable collections of paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, jewelery and textiles. Installed in the former monastic dependencies, that also visit the cloisters, the kitchen, the refectory and the chapter house.
In the county there is the possibility to visit the Geological Research and Study Centre of Canelas and Trilobites Giants Museum, the House of Parideiras Stones and the Municipal Museum.