dates back to the Medieval Ages. In the 16th century, the property belonged to Tomé da Costa, a nobleman from Vila Nova de Gaia who served for the Kingdom during the period of the Philippine dynasty. The building was also known as Quinta da Costa. The building has a semi-public chapel dedicated to São Tomé, a Baroque garden with camellias and a large tank of stonework that receives water from the source of São Mamede in Serra de Canelas. There is also a statue dedicated to the writer Eça de Queiroz who fell in love with the daughter of the owner (4th Count of Resende) and married her (Emília de Castro Pamplona). After the City Council of Gaia purchased the property in 1984, it has been operating as Municipal House of Culture. There is a Documentation Center for History, Archaeology, Art and Anthropology, as well as a museum site with Azuaga Marciano Collection. Gallery Sister City Vila Nova de Gaia is twinned with: Concord, Massachusetts, United States of America Dunavarsány, Hungary Notable people Maria Isabel Wittenhall van Zeller (1749–1819) a pioneer in the use of vaccination against smallpox. António Soares dos Reis (1847-1889) a Portuguese sculptor. António Teixeira Lopes (1866–1942) a Portuguese sculptor. Daniel Pina Cabral (1924–2008) an Anglican bishop, Bishop of Lebombo, Mozambique, 1968 to 1976 António Pires Veloso (1926–2014) an Army General, overseas Governor & political candidate António Reis (1927–1991) a film director, screenwriter and producer, poet, sculptor and ethnographer. Maria Alberta Menéres (1930–2019) a Portuguese author, children's writer, journalist and poet. Bruce Duncan Guimaraens (1935–2002) a Portuguese-British port wine maker. António Pinho Vargas (born 1951) a jazz and contemporary music composer and pianist Paulo Rangel (born 1968) a Portuguese jurist, politician and MEP since 2009. Dalila Carmo (born 1974) a Portuguese actress. Sónia Rocha (born ca.1975) a cell biologist and academic at University of Liverpool Sport João Pinto (born 1961) a retired footballer with 408 club caps and 70 for Portugal. José Tavares (born 1966) a retired footballer with 294 club caps and 8 for Portugal. Vítor Baía (born 1969) a retired football goalkeeper with 447 club caps and 80 for Portugal. Basílio Almeida (born 1971) a footballer with 499 club caps António Folha (born 1971) a footballer with 337 club caps and 26 for Portugal & current manager. Rui Jorge (born 1973) a retired footballer with 324 club caps and 45 for Portugal. Fernando Jorge Tavares