S. João da Madeira is a distinctly urban municipality, located in the center of the Entre Douro e Vouga subregion. A 40-minute drive from Porto and 40 minutes from Aveiro, the municipality has an area of ​​8 square kilometers and a population of 21,700. It was incorporated into the Porto Metropolitan Area in 2004 and is the second largest city in the Aveiro District.

With a strong business brand, S. João da Madeira is proud to be known as the City of Work and the Capital of Footwear, but it has also become recognized for the strength of other sectors, particularly in the areas of technology and creativity, as well as for its quality of life, which has been recognized in various studies.