MAIA
(Parish of Ribeira Grande Municipality)
37.83468, -25.39272
Maia is a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 1,900, in an area of 21.97 km². Maia is the largest parish by area in Ribeira Grande.
History
The first Azorean historians referred to this parish, owing to the settlement of Inês da Maia, a noblewoman who established a home here in the 15th century.
The settlement of the community dates back to the early settlement of Ribeira Grande; the construction of the main church was begun at the end of the 15th century. By 1522, it had its third vicar. Maia became one of the northern coasts more rapidly growing places: one hundred years after its foundation it had become a civil parish. Its fertile terrains, one of the more productive on the island of São Miguel, and its port access, meant that small industry developed easily in this area.[3] In particular, the tobacco, tea, and cement industries developed fo the next centuries. Maia was also the location and headquarters for one of the first passenger transport companies on the island.
The parochial church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit in 1812, constructed after a 16th-century chapel, and expanded in 17th and 18th centuries. The Solar do Lalém, was built at the end of the 19th century, with a chapel and 18th-century portal.
In the area of Gorreana, was thus named for the fact that the first resident was a man named Gorreana or Gorro de Ana, who owned a tea plantation, a rare thing in Europe. This area is also the location of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Resgate (Portuguese: Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Resgate), from the 18th century, constructed with a decorative facade by the local farmers. In its interior, azulejos were assembled on the altar with a medallion and the patron saint in the same decoration.
In Lombinha da Maia, named for its location on a small hill/escarpment (Portuguese: lombinha), a small chapel was constructed in 1896, to Nossa Senhora das Dores. Later it was adapted, with a baptistery and sacristy to support the parishioners.
On 27 October 1919, a commission was installed to establish a religious Brotherhood, dedicated to the Holy Spirit of Maia (Portuguese: Santa Casa do Divino Espírito Santo da Maia) was convened. In 1943, the group erected a cornerstone for the local hospital, inaugurated on 24 September 1944. With the acquisition of the local pharmacy in 1946, Santa Casa supported the population from Porto Formoso until Fenais da Ajuda.
The first male school was created in 1860, and later another schoolhouse dedicated to female students was established in 1877, eventually resulting in the development of the first primary school in January 1890. These schools were installed in private residences, later substituted by centenary schools, as part of centenary build programs at the turn of the century, opening on 1 December 1951. In 2000, Maia inaugurated a new EB2/3 secondary school to support the regional population.
Geography
Maia is located along the northern coast of São Miguel, situated between the civil parishes of São Brás (in the west) and Lomba da Maia (in the east) in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, with the municipalities of Vila Franca do Campo and Povoação to the south. This southern border makes up part of the Serra da Tronqueira, a rugged ridge that intersects the middle of the island. The parish is bisected by the Regional E.R. 1-1ª roadway running west to east, and a secondary roadway (E.R.2-1ª) running to the southern municipality.
There are several smaller nuclei within the borders of Maia, these include the main village of Maia (along the coast), Lombinha da Maia (near the border with Lomba da Maia), Calços da Maia (a stretch of road to the main roadway from the village) and Gorreana (near its western border with São Brás). The main village extends along a former debris field, a fajã, that extended from the heights of the[clarification needed]
Economy
The parish is supported economically by agriculture, fishing and auxiliary industries/commerce related to the tea plantations, tourism, and hospitality services.
Culture
The parish social center promotes many of the cultural initiatives, conferences, colloquiums, and events in the parish.
Religious events include the celebrations marking Senhor dos Passos, on the week Sunday of Lent, the festivals of the Holy Spirit (on the Monday of the Holy Spirit), the festival of a "Blessed" (Portuguese: Festa do Santíssimo), on the second-to-last Sunday of July, and the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (Portuguese: Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário), on the first Sunday of October. There are approximately 14 processions per year in the parish.
Architecture
Church of the Divine Holy Spirit (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Maia/Igreja do Divino Espírito Santo), established from a 1522 chapel, it was elaborated by João Tavares, but only consecrated on 15 October 1812.
RABO DE PEIXE
(Parish of Ribeira Grande Municipality)
37.81475, -25.58924
Rabo de Peixe is a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2021 was 8,801, in an area of 16.96 km2. It is the most populous and most densely populated parish in the municipality. It contains the localities Charco, Custódio, Labardas, Nogueira, Pico da Madeira, Pico da Varanda, Pico do Bode, Pico do Refugio, Rebentão, Santana, São Sebastião, Senhora da Conceição and Tulha.
History
It is uncertain when the territory was settled, although it is assumed that the settlement of Ribeira Grande may have directly affected the colonization of the area. Local sources put the colonization at around the 15th century, by Flemish and Moorish settlers.
Its toponomy was first defined by Father Gaspar Frutuoso during the 16th century, who reflected on the fact that the area received its name owing to the physical topography. As he indicated, the terrestrial physiography, and specifically the land around one of its bays resembled a fishtail, or in Portuguese rabo de peixe (literally tail of the fish). Similarly, another reference by the priest and chronicler indicated that the area was also known for the discovery of the tail of a large unknown species of fish, and may have received its name from this legendary account.
The Church of Senhor Bom Jesus was constructed in the 18th century: the project was started in 1690 and concluded in 1735 in the Baroque style typical of the islands.
In the locality of Santana, a fertile plain that extends from Rabo de Peixe until the edge of the town of Ribeira Grande was used during the era of the Second World War as a military airfield. Following 1946, it was transformed into the islands first civilian airport, before being abandoned in favour of the Ponta Delgada-Nordela airstrip along the southern coast.
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Owing to the importance of the port to the economy and life of the civil parish, on the 19 August 2012, then-president Carlos Cesar announced the remodelling and extension of the port facility, which includes two new wings: a 285 metres (935 ft) southern dock, and the 45 metres (148 ft) northern dock, that runs perpendicular. The project allows the shelter of ships and equipment within a 3.5 hectares (0.035 km2) area. In addition, the port facility would include a 100 metres (330 ft) floating dock and three piers, in addition to the expansion of port facilities to include ramps and docks for the repair of boats, fish houses and a new 600 metres (2,000 ft) roadway that would circle the complex (linked to the main roadway)
Economy
Essentially, the parish's economy is driven by primary resource production that includes fishing and agriculture, with secondary industries associated with these sectors, including civil construction, fish processing and some milk-processing facilities.
Culture
Owing to its history, Rabo de Peixe is an area of strong heritage and cultural traditions, that includes traditional festivals, folklore, music and a large architectural patrimony. The religious festivals are valued by the local population, and attract many visitors throughout the year. They begin immediately on the first day of the New Year, with the ‘’Festa do Senhor Bom Jesus’’, the patron saint, but also include the devotional celebrations associated with the Holy Spirit throughout the summer after Pentecosts.
The ‘’Festa da Bandeiras’’ (literally ‘’Festival of the Flags’’) is one of the more expressive celebrations and includes both the commemorations of the ‘’Festas da Beneficência’’ (associated with the ‘’Flag of Charity’’) and the ‘’Festas da Caridade’’ (analogous with the ‘’Flag of the Holy Trinity’’). Accompanying these flags are the ‘’Despensas’’ and ‘’Bailinhos’’, two dances typical of the historical Rabo de Peixe.
There are six coronations associated with the celebrations to the Holy Spirit in Rabo de Peixe: São Sebastião, São João, São Pedro, Dos Inocentes, Santíssima Trindade and Rosário.
On the first Sunday in October is the celebration of the Feast of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (‘’Our Lady of the Rosary’’), marked by a ceremonial procession through the town. The following day, there is also a procession which winds through the main roads, which is comparable to the procession through the streets of Ponta Delgada during the festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres.
Celebrations in honour of Santa Cecília and Nossa Senhora da Conceição, patron saints of the local philharmonic bands also result in processions, as well as the processions celebrating São Sebastião (on the second-to-last Sunday of January), Senhor dos Passos (third Sunday after Easter), Ramos (Sunday following Easter), Senhor Morto (evening of Good Friday), Senhor Ressuscitado (Easter Sunday), Enfermos (first Sunday after Easter) and São Pedro Gonçalves (on the sixth Sunday after Easter).
The feasts of the Holy Spirit (Portuguese: Espírito Santo) include the folkloric ‘’Despensas’’ (a local dance) that is different then the traditional dances on the island, including the ‘’Balho dos Homens da Terra’’ and the ‘’Balho dos Homens do Mar’’, which are danced solely by men, accompanied by castanets. Throughout the dance, women do participate, but they never begin the dance with the men.
Architectural Heritage
Church of the Lord Bom Jesus (Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus)
Building that was built in the 18th century. It is thought that its construction began around 1690 but was only completed in 1735 and is a Baroque-style church.
Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary (Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Rosário)
Built in the 16th century. This hermitage was the main church in the parish before the church of Senhor Bom Jesus was built.
Hermitage of Saint Sebastian (Ermida de São Sebastião)
Built in the 18th century, it is also in Baroque style. In this hermitage, there is a rare image of Saint Thomas Aquinas and rare tiles from the 18th century, depicting Saint Sebastian in situations of torture.
Chapel of Our Lady of Conception (Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Conceição)
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, built in the 17th century, is a monument in the Mannerist style. It has an altar covered in one hundred and twelve white and blue tiles from the 18th century. This hermitage is classified as a regional heritage site in the Azores.
Sant’Ana Hermitage (Ermida de Sant’Ana)
The Hermitage of Sant’Ana presents a small structure, with a façade made of volcanic stone flanking its entire perimeter.
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SÃO BRÁS
(Parish od Municipality of Ribeira Grande)
37°49′6″N25°24′45″W
São Brás is a parish in the Municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Azores. The population in 2011 was 650, in an area of 8.08 km2.
Heritage
Saint Blaise Church
São Brás Lagoon
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