The Environmental Interpretation Centre - CIA, is a space for reception of visitors, for the dissemination and promotion from the Área de Paisagem Protegida Local (Local Protected Landscape Area) of the Serras de Santa Justa e Pias (Santa J ...
Route - Geo discovers in Oporto Metropolitan Area
Situated in the Oporto Metropolitan Area, municipalities of Gondomar, Paredes and Valongo have a wide and relevant geological and mining heritage which manifests itself in terms of stratigraphy, paleontology, tectonics, geomorphology and mineral resources, with special emphasis on the fossil-bearing deposits, auriferous and coal mineralization’s, and the slate deposits from the Paleozoic Era.
This territory rich on natural resources was, from the earliest times, exploited by Man attracted by gold, coal and slate. After decades of intense exploitation, which promoted the economic development of municipalities, a change of paradigm occurred as these resources became an environmental and natural added value, as well as a field for scientific research of broad spectrum.
With the making of this route we want to treasure this common ground, through the discovery of existing natural and cultural assets, by adding it usefulness and by enhancing the plurality of functions it may provide either on the identity level, as well as on cultural, social, economic and touristic.
This touristic product offers the possibility to visit:
• Museums – Slate Museum, Mining Museum of S. Pedro da Cova;
• Interpretive Centers - Interpretation Centre of Castromil Gold Mine and Banjas, Environmental Interpretation Center of Valongo;
• Old mines - Fojo das Pombas in Valongo and Castromil mines in Paredes;
• Extraction and processing companies - Slates of Valongo Company and Pereira Gomes & Carvalho Company;
• Pedestrian trails –network of hiking trails;
In addition to these offers, visitors may also know many examples of the built heritage and complete their stay with the delicious and varied local cuisine, taste the green wines of the region, see the making of crafted pieces and take some as souvenirs, and stay to enjoy the vibrant local festivities…
Support: Cristina Madureira, Paula Machado
This territory rich on natural resources was, from the earliest times, exploited by Man attracted by gold, coal and slate. After decades of intense exploitation, which promoted the economic development of municipalities, a change of paradigm occurred as these resources became an environmental and natural added value, as well as a field for scientific research of broad spectrum.
With the making of this route we want to treasure this common ground, through the discovery of existing natural and cultural assets, by adding it usefulness and by enhancing the plurality of functions it may provide either on the identity level, as well as on cultural, social, economic and touristic.
This touristic product offers the possibility to visit:
• Museums – Slate Museum, Mining Museum of S. Pedro da Cova;
• Interpretive Centers - Interpretation Centre of Castromil Gold Mine and Banjas, Environmental Interpretation Center of Valongo;
• Old mines - Fojo das Pombas in Valongo and Castromil mines in Paredes;
• Extraction and processing companies - Slates of Valongo Company and Pereira Gomes & Carvalho Company;
• Pedestrian trails –network of hiking trails;
In addition to these offers, visitors may also know many examples of the built heritage and complete their stay with the delicious and varied local cuisine, taste the green wines of the region, see the making of crafted pieces and take some as souvenirs, and stay to enjoy the vibrant local festivities…
Support: Cristina Madureira, Paula Machado
Points of Interest to visit at this Location
Environmental Interpretation Centre
Red Route / Fojo das Pombas
Pedestrian trail "built in land with lithology from the Precambrian and/or Cambrian Periods and up through the Ordovician Period. In the beginning of this trail, lithology such as schist and siltites from the Ordovician Period is present. A ...
Museu Mineiro de São Pedro da Cova
Created in 1989 , the Mining Museum of São Pedro da Cova has as its mission the enhancement , promotion and dissemination of geological and mining of São Pedro da Cova . Housed in the old Houses of Malta is acquired by the Parish of São Ped ...
Castromil Gold Mines
The municipality of Paredes in partnership with the Department of Geosciences of FCUP have worked in the preservation and promotion of the the Gold Mines of Castromil. This work received an Honorable Mention in the Geoconservation Award, 20 ...
Centro de Intepretação das Minas de Ouro de Castromil e Banjas
In Paredes, the Castromil and Banjas areas shows important vestiges of the auriferous exploitations of Romans times. This region belongs to the northwest Iberian Peninsula that has been considered one of the richest and most gold produced ...
Ecological Corridor
The Ecological Corridor is essentially a pedestrian trail along the important fluvial systems within the landscape. A large portion of this trail "is built in land with lithology from the Precambrian and/or Cambrian and/or Ordovician period ...
Yellow Route
Route with signaling limitations. It will soon be reformulated and integrated into the Park Network of the Serra das Porto Park. Pedestrian trail "exclusively implemented within land comprised during the Ordovician period. In the beginning ...
The Slate Museum
The Museu da Lousa is composed of 3 houses, built with the traditional technique, such as the exterior wall. The first house is intended for carrying out slate workshops. The second house evokes a miner’s house, with a kitchen area, a noctu ...