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Vila Nova de Gaia (Portugal) Porto

Vila Nova de Gaia from Porto Ribeira

Despite its proximity to Oporto, Vila Nova de Gaia is a city with character, commonly known as Gaia. It is located on the left bank of the Douro River, directly across from Porto, with whom he is bound both by the river and the Ponte Luis I.
In medieval times the area of \u200b\u200bthe river began to gain prominence through its shipyard and trading post, won great prosperity in the eighteenth century, when they started to settle in the houses and stores in the area, foreign and Portuguese artists, merchants and businessmen.
Its most noticeable feature are the port wine cellars that extend from the shore line and open to visitors. To enter them it's best to buy a combined ticket which includes boat trip and visit. Numerous small boats that offer a tour of the Duero, passing under the six bridges that link the two sides of the city, and then given the opportunity to visit one (or more) bodegas.Se recommends visiting one of the major producers as Graham's and Sandeman or any smaller as Barros and Ramos Pinto. Cockburn's known for its historical interest while Ferreira has one of the best wine-tasting rooms beautifully decorated with tiles.
should stroll through its streets to absorb the historic atmosphere, on the banks of the river near Cais de Gaia or the adjacent avenues Diogo Ramos Pinto Leite and or climb the steep streets to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, offering superb views of Gaia, Porto and River. Not forgetting tasting wine in pubs and bars with excellent tapas and traditional dishes.

Ponte Luis Rabelo and I from Cais de Gaia

" " Port wine :
" History: The history of the port as a recognized variety of wines dating from the early eighteenth century, when English merchants, based in Oporto, promoted its quality. It was a good time: the French Bordeaux wine could not be imported to England since the two countries were at war so the port quickly became fashionable, aided by the Methuen Treaty of 1703, which reduced the rate import duties on wine.
entered the port trade booming. The gains were so high that many winemakers tried to pass off lower quality wines for the genuine. On 10 September 1756 the Marquis of Pombal, Prime Minister of Portugal, urged the creation of the General Company of Agriculture do Alto Douro, an institution which included one of the oldest appellations of origin of the world, created to regulate the production and marketing of wines of this region, extended along the Douro Valley. Gaia
much land available to build warehouses where large quantities of mature port and was in a perfect position on the Douro River to acquire a prominent role, which still remain in exporting port. It can therefore say that the Port is a Portuguese wine, but a British invention, something that is noted on the labels of the wineries, most English name.

Avenida Diogo Leite (Vila Nova de Gaia)

" Development: The Port is a fortified wine that is made by adding brandy to grapes during production, that it strengthens and slows down the fermentation, preserving half the natural grape sugar. This produces a sweet wine with many degrees of excellent flavor. The climate and geography of the valley: the temperatures are extreme, with hot summers and very cold winters, well as poor soil, which forces the vines to seek moisture deep zones.
The harvest takes place from mid-September to mid-October, when collecting the grapes are crushed and fermented at a controlled temperature. Then stored upstream to settle and clarify until next spring. Once in Gaia, the port is allowed to mature for the time required to develop a certain quality wines, which are then exported worldwide.
There are different types of port.
- White: It is sweet and dry. Served cold and is drunk as an aperitif.
- Tawny: From pink and taste somewhere between white and ruby.
- Ruby: Intense red color, fruity and age are wood.
- Vintage: The most appreciated, is made from a mixture of the best wines of the same crop. Selected by the Port Wine Institute, are the most sought after market production, crops and achieving three or four years.

Sandeman Bodega (Vila Nova de Gaia)

"The Port wine cellars : Gaia There are 18 wineries offering tours and tastings of port. The production area of \u200b\u200bport was the first distinguished wine region in the world. In 1987, only the wine matured in Vila Nova de Gaia could be called port. Traditionally produced upstream and down after Gaia. Its production is still carried out in the fifth of the Douro Valley, which now also the port to mature in situ.
Among the most important are:
- Ramos Pinto (Avenida Ramos Pinto, 400) [official website ]: Founded in 1880 by Adriano Ramos Pinto Port to supply the Brazilian market and other South Americans. It has a magnificent library and a vaulted cellar. The office of the founder is now a museum where you can view photos, old posters and other memorabilia. It recalls the important events related to the history of this company and the support they gave to the first flight over the South Atlantic, by two Portuguese, Sacadura Gago Coutinho and Cabral, in 1922.
- Sandeman (Largo Miguel Bombarda, 3) [official website ]: Famous for its wines as well as its mysterious logo, born in 1928 to represent the brand. Today is one of the international brands of wine of Oporto. In the museum covers the history of the Port wine region. The winery was founded in 1790 by a young man of Scottish origin.
- Graham's (Rua Rei Ramiro, 514) [official website ]: traditional winery, founded in 1820, with a terrace overlooking the River. Has a small museum.
- Cálem (Avenida Diogo Leite, 344) [official website ]: Cálem was founded in 1859. His Porto Tawny, 'I velhotes' is one of the best known of Portugal.
- Taylor's (Rua do Choupelo, 250) [official website ]: One of the few remaining family-owned companies in operation for 300 years. His forte is the old vintage.
- Ferreira (Rua da Carvalhosa, 103): It is built on a former convent and is one of the most interesting visits.
- Other wineries : Cokkburn's / Martinez, Barros, Wiese & Krohn, Offley Forrester, Croft, Vasconcelos, grazes, Real Companhia Velha, Quinta do Noval.
"Rabelo : One of the most typical of this walk are called" Rabelo ", a wooden boats were built originally for the transport of wine barrels are used today as a tourist attraction for take short cruises on the Douro River.

Igreja de Santa Marinha (Gaia)

" " Buildings and spaces de interés: 

  Aunque el atractivo de Gaia son sus bodegas, destacan algunos elementos arquitectónicos. Los más sobresalientes, y únicos, son:
» Igreja de Santa Marinha : Está situada sobre una plataforma, elevada del nivel del suelo. Fue construida en el siglo XIV, aunque reconstruida por el arquitecto Nicolau Nasoni en el XVIII. Su fachada es barroca y tiene una sola torre en el lado derecho, dando aspecto de inacabada. En una de las fachadas laterales hay un mosaico realizado con azulejos en 1946.
» Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar : Fue fundado en el siglo XVI por los agustinos. Destaca su rara circular domed church, the sixteenth century, a replica of the Church of Santa Maria Round of Rome. More than a monastery looks like a defensive fortress, and in fact gave such use when the then Duke of Wellington outside, plan, from the terrace monastic surprise attack by the French in 1809. Now belongs to the Artillery Regiment of the Portuguese army. The monastery church is only open on Saturdays and Sunday mornings.
"Mosteiro do Corpus Christi: Remains of a former convent, located in Largo Aljubarrota number 13, which dates back to 1345 and whose foundation is due to the patronage of Mary Mendes Petite. Was closed by the law of 1834, being confiscated all their property. In 1934 he was commissioned to rebuild the architect Januário Godinho and finally recovered in 2002 by the Câmara Municipal de Gaia. Emphasize their convent chapel, octagonal, and in whose interior is the tomb of Cerneche Alvaro Anes, ensign flag carrier at the Battle of Aljubarrota (1385), in addition to their choir loft, large equity interest in the carvings wood by the carpenter Domingos Lopes.

Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (Gaia)

"Jardim do Morro (Avenida da República): Located in the Serra do Pilar, near the top of the Ponte D. Ludwig I, is a magnificent viewpoint over Gaia, Douro River and the historic area of \u200b\u200bPorto. It has a lake and a garden with a variety of plant species.
"Afurada : São Pedro da Afurada is a neighborhood located on the left bank of the Douro River, near its mouth. It is the most recent, small and typical of Gaia. In the charters of D. Denis, 1228 and D. Manuel I, in 1518, this place is designated as Furada, being as this, its name. Afurada is primarily known for its fishing traditions.
"Acute : In the second half of the nineteenth century a group of fishermen was established in this area which would later be called acute. Even today, fishing is mobilizing its people and in the auction, you can buy the fruits of the slaughter at sea. Apart from fishing, Sharp became known for its beach.
"Gaia Commuter: In Grijó , a few miles south of Vila Nova de Gaia, the Augustinian Monastery of São Salvador also has a unique two-storey cloister, which was completed in 1593.
"" Bibliography: »Brochures Porto Tourist Office (March 2011)» Portugal (Key Guides) (Editorial Espasa)
»Links: " Porto Guide » Porto Tourism " About Portugal " Câmara de Vila Nova de Gaia " Vila Nova de Gaia