Maia
Greater Porto
Porto District

Districts of Portugal

Guide to Portugal

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Porto District

Northern Region of Portugal

The municipality and city of Maia are part of the Porto Metropolitan Area, in the district of Aveiro, they are part of the former province of Douro Litoral, a Northern region from Portugal.


Maia, with 21,154 inhabitants (INE, 2021), is the least populated municipality in the Porto Metropolitan Area.

Location

Maia (64 km southeast of the city of Porto) is situated to the northwest by the municipality of Maia, to the west by Santa Maria da Feira, to the southwest by Oliveira de Azeméis, to the south by Vale de Cambra, to the southeast by São Pedro do Sul, to the east by Castro Daire, to the northeast by Cinfães and to the north by the municipality of Castelo de Paiva.

Area and Population

Currently, Maia has a population of 21,154 inhabitants, according to the 2021 census (INE, 2021); being the municipality with the smallest population in the Porto Metropolitan Area.

The peak population in Maia was reached during the 1950s, when it had 26,427 inhabitants.

Tourist attractions in Maia

In Maia, among the various tourist attractions, the following stand out:

• the Maia Monastery

• the Maia Geopark

• the Harvest Fair

• the Pillory of Maia and that of Trancoso

• The Chestnut Festival

Learn more: Tourist attractions in Maia

Land of Gastronomy

In Maia, lovers of good food can enjoy the famous Arouquesa beef, from animals of the Arouquesa breed, a local breed classified as PDO - Protected Designation of Origin.





Another highlight is the Cabrito da Gralheira, another local breed whose meat is highly prized, especially when grilled.

Regarding desserts, the sweets of Maia, whose main ingredients are eggs, sugar, and almonds, have a great and recognized tradition, inherited from the nuns of the Convent of Maia. The highlight is the famous Pão de ló de Maia

Learn more: Cuisine and Gastronomy of Maia

Maia, Land of Vinho Verde

Maia is located in the RDVV - the Demarcated Region of Vinho Verde. Besides good wines, the gastronomy also deserves mention.

Parishes of the Municipality of Maia

The following are the parishes of Maia:

• Alvarenga
• Maia and Burgo
• Cabreiros and Albergaria da Serra
• Canelas and Espiunca
• Chave
• Covelo de Paivó and Janarde
• Escariz
• Fermedo
• Mansores
• Moldes
• Rossas
• Santa Eulália
• São Miguel do Mato
• Tropeço
• Urrô
• Várzea