Praia do Almoxarife
Encyclopedia
Located in the municipality of Horta
, Praia do Almoxarife is a civil parish of the archipelago of the Portuguese Azores
. Ironically, for its history (it was the beachhead of early settlement on the island), its population has not grown significantly since it was settled. It has, although, become an important summer destination and tourist center for its long black sand beach.
and his Flemish compatriots landed on the beach in a misguided hope of discovery precious metals (in particular tin and silver). There settlement abridged the Lomba dos Frades, where they stayed for about a year. Eventually, there was a falling out between Huerter and his people, and he narrowly escaped the island. He returned in 1466-67, with a contract from the Duchess of Burgandy to settle and populate the islands in the name of the crown of Portugal. Quickly, he discovered that the limitations of the area continued, and he abandoned the settlement in favor of the adjacent valley (later known as the Valley of Flamengos); some chroniclers of the island blame this on lack of a potable water source.
But some continued in this region, where a small settlement persisted through the decades. Praia, likely, received its full name (which is of Moorish or Islamic origin) for being the point of settlement for the administrator of lands or royal treasurer on the island; almoxarife means treasurer, a term now in disuse in Portugal, but which refers to an agent responsible for guarding, distributing, inventorying goods or supplies.
On September 12, 1597 English corsairs sacked and burned down the parish.
By 1643, Friar
Diogo das Chagas
, noted that 305 people lived in the community.
It was on February 1, 1718 that many residents gathered at the Casa da Câmara (in Horta) following the catastrophic eruption on the island of Pico, which affected the parishes of Santa Luzia
and Bandeiras
. The local populous then made a procession to the Church of Conceição, with an image of Senhor Santo Cristo, and united with a similar statue of the Virgin Mary, they prayed for mercy. During the course of their benedictions the community made a pledge to celebrate masses of penance, devotion and thanksgiving on future anniversaries in the name of Senhor Santo Cristo; as they pledged "for every year as long as the earth existed...at the municipality's expense...with all officials...assisted by all communities, to be made at your church of Praia...at all expense necessary". Following the beginning of the Portuguese First Republic
until 1926, owing to an anti-religious secularism in the political administration in Portugal (and the Azores), the celebrations were not made. After the 1926 earthquake, a new petition by citizens, to renew the tradition, was forwarded to the Interior Ministry, where the minister authorized the chief of the district to renew the tradition.
Horta (Azores)
Horta is a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipealgo of the Azores, encompassing the island of Faial. Horta has a population of about approximately 15,038 people and an area of 173.1 square kilometers. The population density is about 88 persons per square kilometer...
, Praia do Almoxarife is a civil parish of the archipelago of the Portuguese Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. Ironically, for its history (it was the beachhead of early settlement on the island), its population has not grown significantly since it was settled. It has, although, become an important summer destination and tourist center for its long black sand beach.
History
The settlement of Praia was originally a beachhead of settlement, first as landing point of explorers and then by new colonists. In 1466, Josse van HuerterJosse van Huerter
Josse van Huerter , also known by several transliterations was the first settler, and captain-major of the island of Faial in the Portuguese Azores. After 1482, the island of Pico was also incorporated into his captaincy...
and his Flemish compatriots landed on the beach in a misguided hope of discovery precious metals (in particular tin and silver). There settlement abridged the Lomba dos Frades, where they stayed for about a year. Eventually, there was a falling out between Huerter and his people, and he narrowly escaped the island. He returned in 1466-67, with a contract from the Duchess of Burgandy to settle and populate the islands in the name of the crown of Portugal. Quickly, he discovered that the limitations of the area continued, and he abandoned the settlement in favor of the adjacent valley (later known as the Valley of Flamengos); some chroniclers of the island blame this on lack of a potable water source.
But some continued in this region, where a small settlement persisted through the decades. Praia, likely, received its full name (which is of Moorish or Islamic origin) for being the point of settlement for the administrator of lands or royal treasurer on the island; almoxarife means treasurer, a term now in disuse in Portugal, but which refers to an agent responsible for guarding, distributing, inventorying goods or supplies.
On September 12, 1597 English corsairs sacked and burned down the parish.
By 1643, Friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
Diogo das Chagas
Diogo das Chagas
Diogo das Chagas was a Franciscan monk and Azorean historian, author of Espelho Cristalino, an important resource on the colonization of the islands of the central and western groups of the Portuguese Azores, after 1640.-Biography:He was the son of Mateus Coelho da Costa, Captain-major of the...
, noted that 305 people lived in the community.
It was on February 1, 1718 that many residents gathered at the Casa da Câmara (in Horta) following the catastrophic eruption on the island of Pico, which affected the parishes of Santa Luzia
Santa Luzia (São Roque do Pico)
Santa Luzia is a civil parish in the municipality of São Roque do Pico in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 472, its density is 15.4/km² and the area is 30.69 km²; it is the least populated by density in São Roque do Pico and the northernmost parish on the island.-Geography:Santa Luzia is...
and Bandeiras
Bandeiras (Madalena)
Bandeiras is a civil parish in the municipality of Madalena on the island of Pico in the Azores. It is the least populous of the civil parishes in the municipality, with 520 inhabitants , its density is 20.1/km² and the area is 25.92 km².-History:...
. The local populous then made a procession to the Church of Conceição, with an image of Senhor Santo Cristo, and united with a similar statue of the Virgin Mary, they prayed for mercy. During the course of their benedictions the community made a pledge to celebrate masses of penance, devotion and thanksgiving on future anniversaries in the name of Senhor Santo Cristo; as they pledged "for every year as long as the earth existed...at the municipality's expense...with all officials...assisted by all communities, to be made at your church of Praia...at all expense necessary". Following the beginning of the Portuguese First Republic
Portuguese First Republic
The Portuguese First Republic spans a complex 16 year period in the history of Portugal, between the end of the period of constitutional monarchy marked by the 5 October 1910 revolution and the 28 May coup d'état of 1926...
until 1926, owing to an anti-religious secularism in the political administration in Portugal (and the Azores), the celebrations were not made. After the 1926 earthquake, a new petition by citizens, to renew the tradition, was forwarded to the Interior Ministry, where the minister authorized the chief of the district to renew the tradition.