The bustling suburb of Vila Nova da Gaia lies opposite Porto
on the steep south bank of the mighty River Douro.
Sitting on top of a pre-Roman fortified hamlet,
it was given town status in 1255 by King Alfonso III
and then bequeathed to the aristocracy in order to counteract the power of the bishops of neighbouring Oporto,
who were charging unreasonably high shipping tolls at the time.