Castelo de Paiva is a Portuguese villa of the District of Aveiro, North Region and subregion of the Tâmega, with near 2 900 inhabitants.
She is host of a municipality with 114.67 km ² of area and 17 338 inhabitants (2001), subdivided in 9 freguesías. The municipality limits the north with the municipalities of Penafiel and Marco de Canaveses, to the east with Cinfães, the east and the south with Arouca and the west with Gondomar.
Concelho was called solely Paiva until beginnings of century XIX.
The district of Castelo de Paiva lies in a green region, cover of vineyards, and it is proud of its overwhelming views on the Duero.
Nevertheless, ex--libris of city is other river, Paiva, which flows around the islita of Castelo, that rather seems an old fluvial strength, and is excellent for the aquatic sports: there are rent boats and a swimming swimming pool outdoors, in addition to a series of pleasant beaches and the possibility of making cruises throughout the Douro.
This zone also offers an immense area of forests crossed by rivers and streams where to enjoy pretty landscapes, a calm atmosphere and an intimate contact with the Nature.
As far as the architecture, there are several satately houses of centuries XVII and XVIII in family property next to the Duero, as the Lot gives Fisga, like delicate churches and chapels with precious gilded statures and religious images. The regional crafts include basketwork, works in linen, receive and bronze, being these two last ones, without doubt, those of greater reputation.
As far as the gastronomy, there are many options, from the rice with lamprea to sábalo and the codfish roasted, or, cabrito or calf in sliced thicknesses, fried liver and encebollados churrascos; in any case, anyone of these plates always could be accompanied by delicious vinho green (“it came green”) red, light and frothy of the place.