Isolated by the mountains or on the river bank, the vast Arouca territory displays old villages that almost seem immune to the passage of time. Some of our favorite. A) Paradinha: on the bank of the Paiva river, this charming and well-kept village with recovered paths connecting all the schist and slate houses has an atmosphere of true fable, with the chapel in the foreground . In August it usually hosts classical music concerts, the Sounds of Water. B) Rio da Frades: It is speculated that this settlement was founded by Jesuit friars who, during the Pombaline era, seek refuge there during the extinction of various religious orders. During the Second World War, the Germans transformed this area into an industrial operation for extracting tungsten and one of the tunnels of these abandoned mines is now a passage route that connects the forest to a magical entrance to a series of spectacular waterfalls. C) Cabreiros: Although hidden in the mountains, this village has a strong historical legacy with links to the Order of Malta and part of the “black gold” race map during the World War II. D) Meitriz: Surrounded gracefully by the Paiva river, between the mountains of Montemuro and Arada, this is perhaps the village that has captivated the imagination of visitors to the Arouca interior for the longest time due to its enormous natural beauty. E) Drave: this isolated and uninhabited village has a unique image, as if coming out of a fantasy film due to the fields that, crossed by the river, are meticulously grazed and trampled by herds. Without an easy access, to get there it is necessary to walk along a 4km trail that leaves from Regoufe, where you can also visit the abandoned tungsten mines.