Vila Nova de Gaia is a city the Douro Litoral region of Northern Portugal, immediately facing Porto across the Duoro river, with both cities forming the core of a contiguous metropolitan area together. Vila Nova was created out of the need to house the workers of Porto, and is thus much more residential in character - and, in fact, statistically more populous than Porto itself. Sometimes called "Gaia" in common parlance, the city is home of cellars of port wine, several shopping centers and some of the best beaches. : P70 : P8