Vila Nova de Gaia spreads along the left bank of the Douro, right opposite the historic centre of Porto, to which it is joined by the famous Luís I bridge and five other bridges. With over 300,000 inhabitants it is Portugal's third most populous municipality, but for visitors Gaia means one thing above all: the port wine lodges.
The lodges
Along the Cais de Gaia, the riverside quay, and up the steep lanes behind it, stand the caves, the lodges where for centuries port wine has come from the Douro valley to age in wooden casks, thanks to the cooler, damper coastal climate. The names are the historic ones, many of English or Scottish origin: Sandeman, Taylor's, Graham's, Cockburn's, Ferreira, Calém, Ramos Pinto and many more. Almost all offer guided tours with tastings. Moored at the quay are the barcos rabelos, flat-bottomed boats that once carried the casks down the river.
WOW and the cable car
In 2020 WOW, World of Wine opened, a large cultural quarter in old wine warehouses, with museums devoted to wine, cork, fashion, the history of Porto and chocolate, plus restaurants and terraces. The Gaia cable car links the quay with the upper town near the bridge, with fine views over the lodge roofs.
Serra do Pilar
At the top of the hill, at the end of the upper deck of the Luís I bridge, stands the Serra do Pilar monastery, with a rare circular church and cloister of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: it is part of the UNESCO site of Porto's historic centre. The viewpoint in front of the monastery offers the most famous view of Porto and the river, splendid at sunset. From here, in 1832-33, during the civil war, Liberal troops defended the besieged city.
Beaches and nature
Gaia also has about 15 kilometres of Atlantic beaches, linked by wooden boardwalks. The most distinctive is Miramar, with the little chapel of Senhor da Pedra built on a rock by the sea. Inland, the Gaia Biological Park is an oasis of nature with Iberian wildlife. Gaia is served by the Porto metro (line D) and suburban trains.