/ ARIZ

"(...) consists of a few dozen houses perched on top of and between crags (...). But this Ariz, so stuck in the thickets of Nave (...), has history."

AQUILINO RIBEIRO, IN GEOGRAFIA SENTIMENTAL

HISTORY

Located on the right bank of the Paiva River, Ariz is part of a markedly granite landscape, surrounded by patches of pine forest and small agricultural fields lovingly irrigated by the Paiva River and the Cubos stream.

The Goth Alaric gave it the name villa Alarici, but its origins are more remote and date back to prehistory, as evidenced by the presence of dolmens and other Neolithic remains. In those times, the large crags were used as shelters by our immemorial ancestors who built the walled village of “Castelo” there.

The human occupation of Ariz is long and continuous. The Roman/early medieval Janamoga farmhouse, the rock necropolises of Penedos and Pulo do Lobo/Fonte dos Lobos, as well as a funerary stele, with a Latin inscription (D(is) M(anibus) S(acrum) / RVFINO RU/FI ANN(orum) XV (quindecim) / ET RVFO RV/FINI ANN(orum) XXX (triginta) / […] – Dedicated to the Manes gods. To Rufino, son of Rufo, fifteen years old, and to Rufo, son of Rufino, thirty years old. […]), are witnesses of the passage of time.

BRIDGE

"ROMAN"

One of the village’s landmarks is the Ponte Nova (New Bridge). This beautiful construction was built in the Romanesque style, which is why it is affectionately called Ponte “Romana” (Roman Bridge) by its people. It is a paved access structure and deck without railings, with one of the arches almost buried.

VILLAGE

OF THE CASTLE

"The pemegal is the ruin palace of the mountain."

The Men of Pêra and Peva left the primitive castle, the old church, the mountain heights defended by the crag and, in the “countryside” they fully shared the fate of the riverside populations. This descent is located at least at the end of the 16th century.