The municipality of Lousada, integrated in the region of the Sousa Valley, is strongly industrialized, with great prominence of the textile industry, although there is still a deeply rural feel to it, mainly in the dairy and green wine sectors, and also has quite technologically developed agro-industrial companies.
In previous centuries, Lousada has been a very wealthy region, and proving this are the great manors and villas dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the golden age of rural aristocracy. With a population reaching up to 45.000 inhabitants, young in its majority, distributed through about 95km2, the Municipality of Lousada is 35 km away from Porto, to whose district it belongs, confining with the Municipalities of Penafiel, Paredes, Paços de Ferreira, Santo Tirso, Vizela, Felgueiras and Amarante, providing enough attractions for a pleasant stay.
The archaeological stations, with excavation campaigns in course, the churches and majestic bridges, the aqueduct and the tower of the Moors constitute historical patrimony of a City where the natural beauties claim themselves, as the Gazebos of Alto do Fogo, in Tornos, or of Alto da Senhora do Amparo, in Covas, may testify.
The handcraft has in the embroideries an important expression, but the weaving, especially in linen, pyrotechnics, basketry, shoe and tin making are equally active in a land where the incomparable green wine and the famous gastronomy, mainly the baked lamb with rice in the oven, "basulaque", "pão-de-ló" and the "beijinhos de amor" (little love kisses) also deserve special relevance.
The pilgrimages run the Municipality along the year, with folklore, bands, drums, giant puppets, fireworks, amusing "fire cows", the greatest platform in the Country, carried in the festivity of Nossa Senhora da Aparecida (Our Appeared Lady) by over 70 men, and the singular hospitality of the people of Lousada complete the reasons to visit a land where well-being has been valued.
If the municipal swimming pools, auditory and library offer interesting proposals, an improvement in the hotel and lodging offer is undeniable; tourism in the rural area already knows some examples and the facilities have been extended. Lousada, in the scope of the Sousa Valley Region, congregates excellent conditions to offer to the tourist.
Cultural, Romanesque and Green Wine routes, and cultural and sporting programs during the year come off as proposals, not forgetting the new Sports Complex and Training Centre and Lousada's Euro-Circuit, confirming that living in this land means growing quality and pleasure.