Is Perozelo just a name on a map or a place brimming with stories? It is definitely the latter. Perozelo sits in the municipality of Penafiel. It is a parish with an area of 4.92 square kilometers. In 2021, Perozelo had a population of 1317. This gives it a population density of 267.7 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The history of Perozelo is intertwined with the families who shaped it. The Brandões family were once the lords of this land. They were treasurers to the king in Porto and landowners of Perozelo. They received much bread at the Casa do Celeiro and Casa da Torre.
Perozelo has some interesting heritage sites. One is the Mata da Casa das Eiras. It features the Tapada das Eiras. There is a rock with rupestrian engravings here. Another is the Chapel of Santa Catarina. Some say it dates back to the 15th century. It has specific features that authenticate its age. It has a Romanesque door with a simple full arch. The doorstep is worn from centuries of faithful passage.
The Chapel of Santa Catarina may stand on a prehistoric monument. Perhaps it is a destroyed mamoa. Four graves lie outside its perimeter. They are cut into the rock. Two are anthropomorphic. One of these is mutilated. Two are shaped like a basin. One is chipped.
A monthly fair used to take place in the square of the chapel. It was on the 24th of each month. It was created by the Brandões family. They owned almost all the land in Perozelo. Later, the fair moved to Coreixas. Two stories explain this change.
One version says the residents of Perozelo built the Chapel of Senhora da Conceição. They did this without consulting the Brandões family. Another version says the Brandões family felt the residents did not care for the Chapel of Santa Catarina. Displeased, the Brandões family moved the fair to Coreixas. They never returned to the parish. The tenants of Perozelo had to take their dues to Coreixas.
Perozelo also has a modern side. The Polidesportivo de Peroselo opened on April 29, 2017. It provides a space for sports and recreation.
From ancient stones to modern sports Perozelo blends history with present-day life.