Storytelling the Geoheritage of Viana do Castelo (NW Portugal)

The development and implementation of appropriate geotourism resources (e.g., field guidebooks, websites, trails, leaflets, and interpretative panels) are technical applications of major importance in geoconservation that highlight the social importance of this emerging geoscience. Scientific research, training, and recreation are activities which are often developed in territories with a geoheritage value; however, not all geoheritage content available in a given territory of geological interest can satisfy researchers, students, and geotourists simultaneously. In addition to these conventional aspects of the evaluation of the five key geological sites along the Viana do Castelo coast (NW Portugal), which mainly focused on a scientific-based discourse, a different approach was also undertaken in order to achieve the same goal, but targeting a distinct public. Instead of conceiving a geo-itinerary designed for specialists, the five areas (Alcantilado de Montedor, Pedras Ruivas, Ínsuas do Lima, Canto Marinho, and Ribeira de Anha) and the Santa Luzia Viewpoint have been evaluated in a way which mainly focuses on touristic considerations. The selected geosites, therefore, were organized and described in a context of simplification of the geoscientific message to help develop the understanding of a more general public, rather than geosciences experts.