This document summarizes information about the village of Guirela, Portugal. It describes Guirela as an old village with a declining population and low literacy. It has historical sites like an old chapel and houses from a royal family that are over 300 years old. The document also describes nearby areas like the Arda River, Fojo waterfall and mines, and the historical significance of these places to the village. It provides recommendations to promote rural tourism in Guirela such as reopening the mines, improving infrastructure, and taking advantage of natural areas like the river and forest.

1. Guirela
• Guirela is a very old village in the
municipality of Castelo de Paiva.
• It has an ageing population with
low literacy skills.

2. • It has a very interesting historical
heritage that should be better used.
• At the moment it is a little known
village, with a growing population-
decreasing trend.
• It is located in a secluded area,
surrounded by greenery.

3. Arda river
• This is the Arda river. It
flows into Guirela.
• In the old days, the people of
Guirela often went there to
enjoy the sunny days; currently,
it is surrounded by wild
vegetation which prevents
people from benefitting from
this natural beauty. Only a
few people know about it.

4. Religious heritage
• This is the chapel of Guirela.
• Currently, it is only used to
celebrate masses on August 15,
the yearly village feast day
• It's falling into abandonment.

5. Historical and cultural heritage
This house belonged to a royal family
and is over 300 years old.
This is the Fojo’s mining
easel. This is where the miners
descended into the mines

6. Fojo
These are some of the houses that were
inhabited by the miners.
This was a mill that was at the entrance
of the mines.

7. Fojo waterfall
• This is the waterfall of Fojo.
• This waterfall is located in front
of the mines and carries water in
to the mine.

8. Fojo Mines
This image shows the entrance to the m
ines.
This image shows the end of the path in
the mines.

9. Interior of mines
• Here we can check the inside of
the mines.

10. Measures to be implemented to promote
rural tourism in Guirela
• We could reopen the mines with the necessary safety conditions to
create public exhibitions with collection at the entrance.
• Building walkways in the forest area surrounding the mines.
• Creating an online site about the mines, in order to encourage the
population to visit the site.
• Rebuilding the miners' old houses and rent them to people.
• Rebuilding some rooms of the royal family house and open it to the p
ublic, implementing the option of hosting
rooms, among other services.

11. • We could improve access, especially streets that are in poor condition
and are narrow.
• Take advantage of the forest area to create leisure spaces for the population.
• We could create campsites.
• Cleaning up along the river banks, encouraging people to enjoy sunny days and
take advantage of it to promote bathing tourism.
• Taking advantage of the river to create a river beach.
• Building a country hotel overlooking the river, for example.