ÁGUA DE ALTO
(Parish of Vila Franca do Campo Municipality)
37.720.26, -25.45526
Água de Alto is a parish in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, with an area of 18.44 km² and 1,656 inhabitants (2021). Its population density is 89.8 inhabitants/km².
History
According to historian Gaspar Frutuoso, little is known about this parish. What is known is that during the 15th century, a hermitage in this region sheltered a hospital for lepers, named Lazareto (after the saint São Lázaro, or Gafaria). Following Gaspar Frutuoso's reference, the community of Água de Alto consisted of thirty houses, administered by Father Baltazar Faguntes.
The parish's name had its origin in the 30-meter (98 ft) waterfall in the vicinity of the Ribeira do Degredo. Owing to water falling from a height, the region began to be referred as Água D´Alto, which is literally water from the heights.
During the early decades of the 16th century, the residents of Água d'Alto divided their days by tilling the land, collecting wood, and fishing. On one day, close to evening, the peasants returned to their homes, where the women had prepared meager meals. Unbeknownst to the residents, a boat carrying pirates, likely Algerian in origin, neared the beach. In the shadows of the night, they passed unseen to the local sentries and surprised the local populace. They sacked, maltreated and injured the men, and violated the women, while another group advanced into the interior led by a drummer, who frightened the citizenry with his drumming. While the sound scared and terrified the women and children, the pirates continued their task of pillaging and destruction. The sentries, discovering finally what was happening, launched boats and knights on horseback to attack the pirates. But, the pirates returned to their launches and escaped, except for the drummer, who continued to drum. When he realized, it was too late, he drummed louder so that no one would cross him. At the end of the night, the drummer quieted his drumming, but immediately the townsfolk heard a scream: the drummer had fallen into a cavern. Although they could not find the body, the settlers would later report that in the evenings they were able to hear the drum. The cavern then became known as the Grota do Tamborileiro because the spirit of the drummer continued to play his drum.
In 1602, Bishop D. Gerónimo visited the parish, finding the parish small and maltreated, and ordered the transference of the priest to São Pedro. The hospital that also functioned here, was also transferred closer to the sea, constructed in the area known as Degredo, which referred to the fact that many of the lepers were left to this zone.
With the growth of the population, in 1832, the settlers petitioned the Bishop of Angra to authorize the institution of a sanctuary, where they could place the holy sacraments.
For a long time, the settlement was part of São Pedro and was promoted to the status of civil parish in 1908, during the government of João Franco.
Geography
Água de Alto is situated on the southern coast of the island of São Miguel. It is located along the regional roadway E.R.1-1ª, which encircles the island, connecting the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo with Ponta Delgada by way of the community of Lagoa along the southern coast.
Economy
Economically, the primary sector is still the most important activity in the parish, however, its relevance has steadily declined over time. The pastures of the parish are dominated by cattle ranching and dairy herding, with agriculture that includes the cultivation of potato, corn, and other vegetables are occurring in the small parcels. Complementing these activities are secondary sector industries associated with construction, painting, and carpentry. Trade and commerce are based on subsistence and support primarily the local market.
Architecture
Church of São Lázaro (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Água de Alto/Igreja de São Lázaro), the church was begun following the testament of João Afonso, das Grotas Fundas, in 1511.
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PONTA GARÇA
(Parish of Vila Franca do Campo Municipality)
37°43′7″N 25°22′12″W
Ponta Garça is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 3,547, in an area of 29.35 km2. It is the largest parish in Vila Franca do Campo.
History
Gaspar Frutuoso indicated that the origin of its toponymy was connected with the first settlers' reflections on sighting this zone. On the other hand, the local civil parish council claims that the area was named for the preponderance of marine birds, that nest on the cliffs of the parish.
The civil parish was first designated in the 16th century, likely owing to the communities growth and access to potable water.
Geography
The parish is located along the main regional roadway that links Lagoa and Ponta Delgada with the eastern part of the island. It is situated in the eastern part of Vila Franca do Campo. It contains the localities Cinzeiro, Meio Moio, Ponta Garça and Senhora das Mercês. Ponta Garça has 3 elementary schools, and a church.
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