São João de Valinhas

São João de Valinhas (also known as Monte Valinhas) is an archaeological site in Portugal. It has shown to have important traces of human remains for the last 2000 years.

The topographical conditions of the area consist of a hill that dominates the valley of Arouca, and this vantage point led to the creation and settlement of a small community from the tenth to the eight centuries BC.

This place would later give birth to a "castrum", or walled settlement, on the south-southwest hillside.

During the Middle Ages, a castle was built on the top of the hill during the Portuguese Reconquista. This castle remained functional until the thirteenth century, when it was abandoned for lack of use.

Investigation has been carried on at Valinhas for the last 17 years, with the formation of the Archaeological Camp of Arouca.