Santa Maria Island
Encyclopedia
Santa Maria (ˈsɐ̃tɐ mɐˈɾi.ɐ), Portuguese for Saint Mary, is an island located in the eastern group of the Azores
archipelago (south of the island of São Miguel
) and the southernmost island in the Azores. The island is primarily known for its white sand beaches, distinct chimneys, and dry warm weather.
) came from the voyages of Portuguese sailors during the reigns of King Denis
(1279–1325) and his successor King Afonso IV
(1325–1357). These were unsubstantiated accounts and unofficial, until 1427 when navigator Diogo de Silves
found the island of Santa Maria (at that time referred to on nautical charts as Ilha dos Lobos or Ilha do Ovo) during his journey to Madeira
. Myth tells that on the day of the islands discovery, Gonçalo Velho Cabral and his crew were celebrating mass (on the feast day of the Virgin Mary), when one of the lookouts spotted the distant island, declaring "Santa Maria": this name would become linked permanently to the island. Santa Maria's discovery was attributed to Gonçalo Velho Cabral in 1432 (rather than the pilot Silves), since discoveries were not "recognized officially" until they declared so by the Portuguese Crown, who registered them in Cabral's name, as commander of the voyage (he had already commanded two voyages of exploration in 1431-1432).
In settling the Azores, the crown applied a system best employed on the island of Madeira in 1425: the new lands would be administered by title grants to a nobleman (a donatário) that would oversee security, colonization and enforce the King's law. The master or Donatário for the Azores was Infante Henry the Navigator, governor of the Order of Christ
and Duke of Viseu
, who was granted carte blanche to enforce the King's dominion (except to coin money and judicial authority). The donatorio also had the responsibility of selecting or sub-contracting local administrators to represent him, as some historians referred to as captains of the donatários; with the support of D. Isabella, Gonçalo Velho was nominated to be the first cpatain of the island of Santa Maria and (later) São Miguel
, where he arrived in 1439 with colonists, bringing their families and some cattle. By 1460, the chronicler Diogo Gomes de Sintra identified the island as Ilha de Gonçalo Velho, with the choicest lands in the hands of their commander.
Colonization progressed between 1443 and 1447, principally from settlers from the Portuguese Alentejo and Algarve, who populated the northern coast along the Baía dos Anjos (Bay of the Angels) and later in the area of Vila do Porto
(in the southwest coast). This area would attain the title of Vila do Porto for the nestled anchorage that developed there, and the municipality would also adopt the name, by 1470 (as indicated on their floral). By the end of the 16th century, Santa Maria was divided into three parishes: Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Vila do Porto), Santa Bárbara
and Santo Espírito
. The governing classes, the families which controlled the politico-administrative organs of the municipality and parishes were all intermingled by marriage and class, and after the Iberian Union this concentration increased.
Similar to other islands of the archipelago, Santa Maria was a victim of repeated attacks by privateers and pirates. In one of the principal engagements, a Castilian
carrack
with 40 men disembarked in the port of Vila do Porto (in 1480), where they were confronted by residents under the command of the Captain-Major João Soares de Albergaria
, who took to hurl rocks from the cliffs above Calhau da Roupa at the invaders. João Soares was eventually captured by the Spaniards
, who took him in irons as a prisoner to Castile
. After subsuccessive pirate attacks, the population was very hostile to travelers: the traveling Christopher Columbus
was greated harshly by its residents, when he and his crew disembarked in the Baía dos Anjos (in February 1493) on their return from their famous "discovery" of the New World. Several of his crew were captured, and complex negotiations were undertaken to liberate the same. Thankful for their liberation, a mass was celebrated by him and his party in the old chapel before he returned to Spain. Although relatively far from the routes used by ships traveling to India, the island was repeatedly attacked by French pirates (1553), the island assaulted by French troops (1576), the English (1589) and Moors (1616 and 1675). By the 17th Century, a series of fortifications were constructed along the coast to defend the populous from these attacks, including the Fort of São Brás (Vila do Porto) and the (ruined) Fort of São João Baptista in Praia Formosa.
When the 1580 crisis of succession ushered in the Iberian Union
in Portugal, the island initially supported António of Crato
, but with pressure from Philip II of Spain
in the Azores, António declined even to disembark in Santa Maria. During this period, the island came to depend on the Governor General of the Azores. After the Portuguese Restoration War
(1640), the news was greeted with celebrations and excesses by the Captain-Major Brás de Sousa.
During the Portuguese Civil War
(1828–1834) the citizens supported the rights of Maria II to the throne of Portugal, which differed immensely from the Governor General of the Azores (on the island of São Miguel) who supported Miguel
. The Captain-major even attempted to raise arms from Terceira, insofar as sending a carrack to collect the weapons. In the interim, the São Miguel administration changed sides in the conflict. By the following year, several Marienses joined the expeditionary force disembarking on the continent along Arnosa de Pampelido beach (near Mindelo, Vila do Conde) during one of the crucial battles of the Civil War.
and beginning of the Paleocene
. These deposits are evidence of an older island environment associated with both volcanic and sedimentary development. Generally, Santa Maria is known for the lack of volcanism during period of human intervention, although seismic events are common due to its proximity to the Glória Fault, an offshoot of the Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault
.
The island is 97.4 km², with an ovular shape, extending from the northwest to southeast generally characterized by two geomorphological regions:
Volcanic in origin, the geology of the island is characterized by a substrata of basalt deformed by a series of fractures in a northwest-southeast orientation. This is interlaced with lode
and deposits of mafic
silicate material. In addition, there are several calcium encrusted fossil deposits associated with marine formations, during a period of formation associated with Surtseyan
activity. The presence of these deposits, unique in the Azores, gave rise to the lime (calcium oxide) industry during the 19th century.
The fossil deposits, usually located approximately 40 m above sea level, have generated great interest in the scientific community, resulting in several palaeontological studies in the 18th century, including Georg Hartung
(1860), Reiss (1862), Bronn (1860), Mayer (1864), Friedlander (1929) and José Agostinho (1937). The Regional Nature Reserve of Figueiral and Prainha, which includes the Natural Monument of Pedreira do Campo, were created by decree of the Regional Assembly in order to preserve and protect this area of natural geological interest.
Soils in the drier western region are predominantly red clay, a consequence of natural alterations associated with pyroclastic deposits during the Palaeocene period, when the island's climate was warmer and more humid, and the median sea level was 100 meters below current sea levels. These conditions allowed the formation of a fine clay, used later to support the pottery industry and export market (primarily to Vila Franca do Campo
and Lagoa
on São Miguel to be used as matéria prima of their traditional pottery. In Barreiro da Faneca, the Regional Assembly decreed a protected plain of this arid soil in order to protect and preserve its characteristics.
Generally, the island coast is ringed by steep cliffs, finding their prominence in the area of Rocha Alta (340 m). In addition, several protected bays along the coast shelter white sand beaches or are guarded by many rocky islets. These include the villages of São Lourenço (and its islet), Praia Formosa (and its long sandy beaches) or the craggy islet of Lagoínhas in the north coast. Forestry, covering about 19 hectares, is confined to high-density Cryptomeria
trees planted along the slopes of Pico Alto, and unkept parcels of wild plants dominated by mock orange (Pittosporum undulatum
), common juniper (Juniperus communis
), and laurel (Laurus azorica
).
Several natural landscapes have been preserved or designated points of natural interest by the Regional Government in order to foster conservation and support endemic species of flora and fauna, as well as provide communal forms of recreation and nature interpretation.
Politically, the island is one municipality, Vila do Porto, with a population of 5,578 inhabitants (2001), divided into five parishes:
, until the 16th century, evolving slowly to a subsistence economy based on cereal crops. This was also a period of pottery production, and export of the fine red clay to artisans on São Miguel (for the production of the same).
Generally isolated from the traffic between the New World and Europe the island depended heavily on agriculture until the 20th century, when US forces established the Airport in Ginjal. It became an international link after 1944, taking on a central position in trans-Atlantic air traffic during the mid-20th century. The island became dependent, almost absolutely, on the airport: first, during the phase of construction (when Marienses were involved in the construction or support) and later when air traffic control
in the north atlantic corridor was based in Santa Maria (FIR Oceânica de Santa Maria). For many decades, the airport at Santa Maria was the gateway to and from the Azores until the construction or renovation of smaller fields on other islands. Evolutions in the aviation industry (primarily of long-range airliners) removed the importance of Santa Maria as a trans-Atlantic stop, and other airports (such as those in Lajes, Horta and Ponta Delgada), better equipped and logistically advanced diminished the importance of activities on Santa Maria. The European Space Agency
(ESA) established a satellite tracking station at the end of the 20th century, rekindling the debate on the island's dependency on the aviation sector.
In comparison with the other islands, the raising of cattle and milk production never attained the same level of dependency. Regardless, agriculture is still the predominant activity in the municipality, occupying 47.6% of the land. This activity is usually confined to small ventures, involving forging plants, small pastures and permanent holdings. Secondary industries are dominated by civil construction, sawmills, tile and block factories, artisan/handicraft producers and fishing. There are several commercial species of fish in the waters around Santa Maria, such as Sheepshead
, Vejas
, Red Snapper
, Grouper
, Wrasse
, Mackerel
, Anchovies
, Needlefish
and Frigate tuna
.
As with the rest of the Azores, tourism makes-up an important tertiary sector, associated with nautical activities such as sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, sport fishing (Tuna
, Swordfish
, and Grouper) and scuba-diving, beach activities, pedestrian hiking and, for some, rabbit hunting. São Lourenço, Praia Formosa, Maia and Anjos are known as summer tourist centers, attracting visitors to the beaches, natural pools, summer cottages/homes and festivals.
located close to Vila do Porto. The airport also provides some direct connections to the rest of the archipelago through SATA Air Açores.
A inter-island ferry, owned by Azorean maritime transport operator Atlantico Line, services Santa Maria weekly. Similarly, inaugurated in 2007 the new marina at Vila do Porto allows access to the island.
In addition to parochial celebrations associated with local saints, the island celebrates the festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres. On August 15 of each year, the municipality also celebrates a festival in honour of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption), the patron saint of Vila do Porto.
During the last week of August, Praia Formosa is home to a world music festival: Máre de Agosto. The beach community is regularly overrun with tourists and local visitors, who travel to the island to listen to world music acts, who in the past have included: John Lee Hooker Jr., Kíla
, Skatalites, Angélique Kidjo
, Rui Veloso
and Gentlemen.
Annual festivities com to a private close with the festival of the Confraria dos Escravos da Cadainha, in Anjos, at the beginning of September. A secular celebration, it is a fraternal private social and cultural event that celebrates the defense of Santa Maria (and in particular Anjos) from pirate attacks. It is a supported by the Centro Cultural Cristóvão Colombo.
Traditional music and folk dancing are heavily influenced by the styles of the Beiras and Alentejo region. Several folk groups have developed on the island that reproduce the clothing styles, the music and traditional dance. Due to factors such as the climate and insular environment the style of music, songs, dance and instruments used (such as the viola de arame). Many of the dances have curious names, such as Pézinho da Garça (the Heron's dance), Moda do Moinho de Mão (the dance of the Hand Mill), Alfinete (the Pin), Balão (the Balloon), and Mouros (Moors). The Museu Etnográfico de Santo Espírito is am important place to investigate aspects of the history and culture of the island.
Apart from the Sopas do Impéro (served during Pentecosts), Santa Maria has a rich gastronomic history that includes Sopa de Nabos (a turnip soup), Bolo de Panela (a cake), Caçoila (a thick meat stew in traditional ceramic pot), Molho de Figado (a liver stew/sauce), Sopa de Peixe (a fish soup), and Caldeirada de Peixe (a mixture of fish or seafood in broth and/or bread). Sweet desserts, such as Suspiros (meringues), Melindres (honey cakes), Biscoitos Encanelados, Tigeladas (a pudding), Biscoitos de Orelha, Biscoitos Brancos, Biscoitos de Aguardente and Cavacas (sugar-coated biscuits), are also popular.
Similarly, the wines of the São Lourenço foothills, as well as other wines and sweet liqueurs, have been commercialized. These include Vinho Abafadinho and Vinho Abafado (both fortified wine liquers), Licor de Amora(mulberry liquer), Licor de Leito (milk liquer) and Aguardente
, which are made using traditional techniques and favored following a dinner.
crashed at Pico Alto killing all 137 passengers and 7 members of the crew. There was confusion between tower and pilots as to the appropriate altitude during their approach.
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...
archipelago (south of the island of São Miguel
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
) and the southernmost island in the Azores. The island is primarily known for its white sand beaches, distinct chimneys, and dry warm weather.
History
The first records of a group of islands in the Atlantic (aside from the legends of AtlantisAtlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
) came from the voyages of Portuguese sailors during the reigns of King Denis
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
(1279–1325) and his successor King Afonso IV
Afonso IV of Portugal
Afonso IV , called the Brave , was the seventh king of Portugal and the Algarve from 1325 until his death. He was the only legitimate son of King Denis of Portugal by his wife Elizabeth of Aragon.-Biography:...
(1325–1357). These were unsubstantiated accounts and unofficial, until 1427 when navigator Diogo de Silves
Diogo de Silves
Diogo de Silves, is the presumed name of an obscure Portuguese explorer of the Atlantic who allegedly discovered of the Azores islands in 1427....
found the island of Santa Maria (at that time referred to on nautical charts as Ilha dos Lobos or Ilha do Ovo) during his journey to Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. Myth tells that on the day of the islands discovery, Gonçalo Velho Cabral and his crew were celebrating mass (on the feast day of the Virgin Mary), when one of the lookouts spotted the distant island, declaring "Santa Maria": this name would become linked permanently to the island. Santa Maria's discovery was attributed to Gonçalo Velho Cabral in 1432 (rather than the pilot Silves), since discoveries were not "recognized officially" until they declared so by the Portuguese Crown, who registered them in Cabral's name, as commander of the voyage (he had already commanded two voyages of exploration in 1431-1432).
In settling the Azores, the crown applied a system best employed on the island of Madeira in 1425: the new lands would be administered by title grants to a nobleman (a donatário) that would oversee security, colonization and enforce the King's law. The master or Donatário for the Azores was Infante Henry the Navigator, governor of the Order of Christ
Order of Christ
Order of Christ may refer to:* Order of Christ – former Knights Templar Order awarded initially by the kings of Portugal, now by the Portuguese state...
and Duke of Viseu
Duke of Viseu
Duke of Viseu was a Portuguese Royal Dukedom created in 1415 by King John I of Portugal for his third male child, Prince Henry the Navigator, following the conquest of Ceuta....
, who was granted carte blanche to enforce the King's dominion (except to coin money and judicial authority). The donatorio also had the responsibility of selecting or sub-contracting local administrators to represent him, as some historians referred to as captains of the donatários; with the support of D. Isabella, Gonçalo Velho was nominated to be the first cpatain of the island of Santa Maria and (later) São Miguel
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
, where he arrived in 1439 with colonists, bringing their families and some cattle. By 1460, the chronicler Diogo Gomes de Sintra identified the island as Ilha de Gonçalo Velho, with the choicest lands in the hands of their commander.
Colonization progressed between 1443 and 1447, principally from settlers from the Portuguese Alentejo and Algarve, who populated the northern coast along the Baía dos Anjos (Bay of the Angels) and later in the area of Vila do Porto
Vila do Porto
Vila do Porto is the single municipality, the name of the main town and one of the civil parishes on the island of Santa Maria, in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Azores...
(in the southwest coast). This area would attain the title of Vila do Porto for the nestled anchorage that developed there, and the municipality would also adopt the name, by 1470 (as indicated on their floral). By the end of the 16th century, Santa Maria was divided into three parishes: Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Vila do Porto), Santa Bárbara
Santa Bárbara (Vila do Porto)
Santa Bárbara is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Porto in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The parish population in 2001 was 480, its population density, approximately 31 inhabitants/km², and its total area is 15.34 km².-Geography:It is connected with a road linking...
and Santo Espírito
Santo Espírito
Santo Espírito is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Porto, in the autonomous region of Azores. It has a population of 723 inhabitants and a total area of 26.65 km². The economy of the parish is based on agriculture...
. The governing classes, the families which controlled the politico-administrative organs of the municipality and parishes were all intermingled by marriage and class, and after the Iberian Union this concentration increased.
Similar to other islands of the archipelago, Santa Maria was a victim of repeated attacks by privateers and pirates. In one of the principal engagements, a Castilian
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
carrack
Carrack
A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
with 40 men disembarked in the port of Vila do Porto (in 1480), where they were confronted by residents under the command of the Captain-Major João Soares de Albergaria
João Soares de Albergaria
João Soares de Albergaria , also referred to as João Soares or João Soares Velho, was the second Portuguese Captain-Donatário of the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel, who succeeded his maternal uncle Gonçalo Velho Cabral in the title...
, who took to hurl rocks from the cliffs above Calhau da Roupa at the invaders. João Soares was eventually captured by the Spaniards
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, who took him in irons as a prisoner to Castile
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
. After subsuccessive pirate attacks, the population was very hostile to travelers: the traveling Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
was greated harshly by its residents, when he and his crew disembarked in the Baía dos Anjos (in February 1493) on their return from their famous "discovery" of the New World. Several of his crew were captured, and complex negotiations were undertaken to liberate the same. Thankful for their liberation, a mass was celebrated by him and his party in the old chapel before he returned to Spain. Although relatively far from the routes used by ships traveling to India, the island was repeatedly attacked by French pirates (1553), the island assaulted by French troops (1576), the English (1589) and Moors (1616 and 1675). By the 17th Century, a series of fortifications were constructed along the coast to defend the populous from these attacks, including the Fort of São Brás (Vila do Porto) and the (ruined) Fort of São João Baptista in Praia Formosa.
When the 1580 crisis of succession ushered in the Iberian Union
Iberian Union
The Iberian union was a political unit that governed all of the Iberian Peninsula south of the Pyrenees from 1580–1640, through a dynastic union between the monarchies of Portugal and Spain after the War of the Portuguese Succession...
in Portugal, the island initially supported António of Crato
António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato , was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal, claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 dynastic crisis, who was King of Portugal as António I of Portugal during 33 days in the continent in 1580, and, after the crowning of Philip II of Spain as King of Portugal,...
, but with pressure from Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
in the Azores, António declined even to disembark in Santa Maria. During this period, the island came to depend on the Governor General of the Azores. After the Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
(1640), the news was greeted with celebrations and excesses by the Captain-Major Brás de Sousa.
During the Portuguese Civil War
Liberal Wars
The Liberal Wars, also known as the Portuguese Civil War, the War of the Two Brothers, or Miguelite War, was a war between progressive constitutionalists and authoritarian absolutists in Portugal over royal succession that lasted from 1828 to 1834...
(1828–1834) the citizens supported the rights of Maria II to the throne of Portugal, which differed immensely from the Governor General of the Azores (on the island of São Miguel) who supported Miguel
Miguel of Portugal
Dom Miguel I, sometimes Michael , was the King of Portugal between 1828 and 1834, the seventh child and second son of King John VI and his queen, Charlotte of Spain....
. The Captain-major even attempted to raise arms from Terceira, insofar as sending a carrack to collect the weapons. In the interim, the São Miguel administration changed sides in the conflict. By the following year, several Marienses joined the expeditionary force disembarking on the continent along Arnosa de Pampelido beach (near Mindelo, Vila do Conde) during one of the crucial battles of the Civil War.
Geography
Physical geography
It is located in the southeast corner of the Azores archipelago, 100 km south of São Miguel, and 600 km from the island of Flores (the western most island in the archipelago). Geologically, it is the oldest island in the archipelago, with formations that are 8.12 million years old. Due to its age, and no historical evidence of volcanism, the geography of the island tends to be more mature and includes larger deposits of sediments then can be found on the other islands of the archipelago. Similarly, marine fossils have been discovered on the island (in Prainha and Lagoinhas) that date back 117-130 million years (the Pleistocene epoch), and others (in Ponta do Castelo) dating back 5 millions of years (to the end of MioceneMiocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
and beginning of the Paleocene
Paleocene
The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
. These deposits are evidence of an older island environment associated with both volcanic and sedimentary development. Generally, Santa Maria is known for the lack of volcanism during period of human intervention, although seismic events are common due to its proximity to the Glória Fault, an offshoot of the Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault
Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault
The Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault, also called the Azores-Gibraltar fault zone , is a major geologic fault which runs eastward from the eastern end of the Terceira Rift in the Azores, extending through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean Sea. It forms part of the tectonic boundary...
.
The island is 97.4 km², with an ovular shape, extending from the northwest to southeast generally characterized by two geomorphological regions:
- A dry clay plain in the west, occupying two-thirds of the island, with its highest point 277 meters above sea level (near Piquinhos). Due to the impermeability of the soils, this regions is arid with fewer leafy plants or grasses. To the north and south the principal points of colonization occurred (Anjos and Vila do Porto, respectively), and 65% of the current population resides in this region, which includes the parishes of Vila do Porto, São Pedro and Almagreira. Airport lands represent the largest use of the space, as the Santa Maria airport is located along the western coast taking advantage of the plain and lack of natural obstacles. River valleys along the north and south divide many of the communities.
- The eastern one-third of the island is composed of eroded hills and mountains, covered by areas of thick vegetation, pasture lands and river valleys. The tallest points on the island, Pico Alto (590 m), Cavacas (491 m) and Caldeira (481 m) are located in this region, which includes the parishes of Santa Bárbara and Santo Espírito, the more rural and agricultural lands on the island. This is a region of higher levels of humidity, with greater instances of wind, fog and precipitation, resulting in rich vegetation and endemic plant species.
Volcanic in origin, the geology of the island is characterized by a substrata of basalt deformed by a series of fractures in a northwest-southeast orientation. This is interlaced with lode
Lode
In geology, a lode is a deposit of metalliferous ore that fills or is embedded in a fissure in a rock formation or a vein of ore that is deposited or embedded between layers of rock....
and deposits of mafic
Mafic
Mafic is an adjective describing a silicate mineral or rock that is rich in magnesium and iron; the term is a portmanteau of the words "magnesium" and "ferric". Most mafic minerals are dark in color and the relative density is greater than 3. Common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine,...
silicate material. In addition, there are several calcium encrusted fossil deposits associated with marine formations, during a period of formation associated with Surtseyan
Surtseyan eruption
A Surtseyan eruption is a type of volcanic eruption that takes place in shallow seas or lakes. It is named after the island of Surtsey off the southern coast of Iceland....
activity. The presence of these deposits, unique in the Azores, gave rise to the lime (calcium oxide) industry during the 19th century.
The fossil deposits, usually located approximately 40 m above sea level, have generated great interest in the scientific community, resulting in several palaeontological studies in the 18th century, including Georg Hartung
Georg Hartung
Georg Hartung was a pioneering German geologist. He is best known for several books and articles about the islands of Macaronesia, especially the Azores and the Canary Islands....
(1860), Reiss (1862), Bronn (1860), Mayer (1864), Friedlander (1929) and José Agostinho (1937). The Regional Nature Reserve of Figueiral and Prainha, which includes the Natural Monument of Pedreira do Campo, were created by decree of the Regional Assembly in order to preserve and protect this area of natural geological interest.
Soils in the drier western region are predominantly red clay, a consequence of natural alterations associated with pyroclastic deposits during the Palaeocene period, when the island's climate was warmer and more humid, and the median sea level was 100 meters below current sea levels. These conditions allowed the formation of a fine clay, used later to support the pottery industry and export market (primarily to Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores...
and Lagoa
Lagoa (Azores)
Lagoa is a municipality on the southwest-central part of São Miguel Island in the Azores It has a population of 14,698.Lagoa is located east of Ponta Delgada and is linked with a road connecting Ponta Delgada, the western part of the island and Furnas, Povoação and the eastern part of the island...
on São Miguel to be used as matéria prima of their traditional pottery. In Barreiro da Faneca, the Regional Assembly decreed a protected plain of this arid soil in order to protect and preserve its characteristics.
Generally, the island coast is ringed by steep cliffs, finding their prominence in the area of Rocha Alta (340 m). In addition, several protected bays along the coast shelter white sand beaches or are guarded by many rocky islets. These include the villages of São Lourenço (and its islet), Praia Formosa (and its long sandy beaches) or the craggy islet of Lagoínhas in the north coast. Forestry, covering about 19 hectares, is confined to high-density Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae; it includes only one species, Cryptomeria japonica . It is endemic to Japan, where it is known as Sugi...
trees planted along the slopes of Pico Alto, and unkept parcels of wild plants dominated by mock orange (Pittosporum undulatum
Pittosporum undulatum
Pittosporum undulatum is a tree growing to 15m tall with wavy leaf edges. It is sometimes also known known as Sweet Pittosporum, Native Daphne, Australian Cheesewood, Victorian Box or Mock Orange...
), common juniper (Juniperus communis
Juniperus communis
Juniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
), and laurel (Laurus azorica
Laurus azorica
Laurus azorica is a species of plant in the Lauraceae family, related to laurus nobilis. It is a member of the genus Laurus and is commonly known as Azores Laurel. Laurus is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae...
).
Eco-regions and protected areas
Much like other islands of the Azores, there are many pedestrian walking trails and hiking circuits throughout the island. The hiking circuits allow the user to experience a range of diverse ecosystems and protected areas of the island that are not easily accessible to most tourists.Several natural landscapes have been preserved or designated points of natural interest by the Regional Government in order to foster conservation and support endemic species of flora and fauna, as well as provide communal forms of recreation and nature interpretation.
- Regional Natural Monument of Pedreira do CampoRegional Natural Monument of Pedreira do CampoThe Regional Natural Monument of Pedreira do Campo , which singularly translated means field quarry, is an area located west of Pico do Facho and Ponta do Figueiral, in the municipality of Vila do Porto, island of Santa Maria in the Eastern Group of the Azores...
- Protected Landscape of Barreiro da Faneca e Costa Norte
- Recreational Forest Reserve of FontinhasRecreational Forest Reserve of FontinhasThe Forest Reserve of Fontinhas is located centrally on the island of Santa Maria, Azores archipelago. It is a section of forest and human spaces within the civil parish of Santo Espírito and operated by the Regional Government of the Azores...
- Recreational Forest Reserve of ValverdeRecreational Forest Reserve of ValverdeLocated in Salvaterra, in the village of Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Island in the archipelago of the Azores. It has an area of 4 hectares, and is situated at approximately 130 meters above sea level...
- Mata do Alto Recreational Forest Reserve
- Figueiral-Prainha Regional Nature Reserve
- Baía da Maia Nature Reserve
- Baía da Praia Nature Reserve
- Baía de São Lourenço Nature Reserve
- Baía dos Anjos Nature Reserve
- Ponta do Castelo Community
- Monte Delgado
- Monte das Flores
- Pico Alto
- Covão da Mula
- Pico do Penedo
- Pico do Norte
Climate
Due to its low profile, the island is distinctly unique in the archipelago, being less influenced by humidity and having a more Mediterranean climate. In the summer it is generally dry and warm and in the winter it is milder with less precipitation. Median temperatures oscillate between 14°C and 22°C.Human geography
Due to the varying geomorphology, the population built homes dispersed throughout the island, forming small nuclei along zones with access to potable water (in the west) and in the valleys (in the east). Traditional homes were constructed from the ubiquitous black volcanic rock, painted white, with doors and windows accented in the available colors of the day. The chimneys of these homes are unique since, heavily influenced by styles from the Alentejo and Algarve, these were ornate or simple, but generally different from house to house.Politically, the island is one municipality, Vila do Porto, with a population of 5,578 inhabitants (2001), divided into five parishes:
- Vila do Porto (parish)Vila do Porto (parish)Vila do Porto is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Porto, located in the island of Santa Maria, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The parish has a population of 2997 in 2001, its density is 116 inhabitants/km² and a total area of 25.63 km²...
, which includes one-third of the island, covering the western plain, the Airport and local communities such as Anjos and Santana encompassing 2,997 of the islands citizens. - São PedroSão Pedro (Vila do Porto)São Pedro is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Porto, in the autonomous region of Azores. It has a population of 841 inhabitants and a total area of 18.18 km². The economy of the parish is based on agriculture and some fishing....
. The northern parish, it includes the communities of Fátima, Paul and Pilar: 841 inhabitants (2001); - AlmagreiraAlmagreira (Vila do Porto)Almagreira is a parish in the municipality of Vila do Porto in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The parish population in 2001 was 537 inhabitants, its population density, 50.8 inhabitants/km², and its total area is 10.58 km². It is located northwest of the town of Vila do Porto...
; the southern dry zone and transitional space that includes Praia Formosa and parts of the mountainous areas of Monteiro and Bom Despacho: 537 inhabitants (2001) - Santo EspíritoSanto EspíritoSanto Espírito is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Porto, in the autonomous region of Azores. It has a population of 723 inhabitants and a total area of 26.65 km². The economy of the parish is based on agriculture...
: the eastern corner covering Maia, Glória and Fontinhas: 723 inhabitants (2001) - Santa BárbaraSanta Bárbara (Vila do Porto)Santa Bárbara is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Porto in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The parish population in 2001 was 480, its population density, approximately 31 inhabitants/km², and its total area is 15.34 km².-Geography:It is connected with a road linking...
, the northern and eastern parish that includes Lagoínhas, Norte and the São Lourenço: 480 inhabitants (2001).
Economy
The island's economy passed through much of the cyclical evolution associated with the Azores. Initially, the economy was based on the production of wheat and woadWoad
Isatis tinctoria, with Woad as the common name, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is commonly called dyer's woad, and sometimes incorrectly listed as Isatis indigotica . It is occasionally known as Asp of Jerusalem...
, until the 16th century, evolving slowly to a subsistence economy based on cereal crops. This was also a period of pottery production, and export of the fine red clay to artisans on São Miguel (for the production of the same).
Generally isolated from the traffic between the New World and Europe the island depended heavily on agriculture until the 20th century, when US forces established the Airport in Ginjal. It became an international link after 1944, taking on a central position in trans-Atlantic air traffic during the mid-20th century. The island became dependent, almost absolutely, on the airport: first, during the phase of construction (when Marienses were involved in the construction or support) and later when air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
in the north atlantic corridor was based in Santa Maria (FIR Oceânica de Santa Maria). For many decades, the airport at Santa Maria was the gateway to and from the Azores until the construction or renovation of smaller fields on other islands. Evolutions in the aviation industry (primarily of long-range airliners) removed the importance of Santa Maria as a trans-Atlantic stop, and other airports (such as those in Lajes, Horta and Ponta Delgada), better equipped and logistically advanced diminished the importance of activities on Santa Maria. The European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA) established a satellite tracking station at the end of the 20th century, rekindling the debate on the island's dependency on the aviation sector.
In comparison with the other islands, the raising of cattle and milk production never attained the same level of dependency. Regardless, agriculture is still the predominant activity in the municipality, occupying 47.6% of the land. This activity is usually confined to small ventures, involving forging plants, small pastures and permanent holdings. Secondary industries are dominated by civil construction, sawmills, tile and block factories, artisan/handicraft producers and fishing. There are several commercial species of fish in the waters around Santa Maria, such as Sheepshead
Sheepshead (fish)
The sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, is a marine fish that grows to 30 in , but commonly reaches 10 to 20 in. It is deep and compressed in body shape, with 5 to 6 dark bars on the side of the body over a gray background. It has sharp dorsal spines. Its diet consists of oysters, clams, and...
, Vejas
Sparisoma cretense
Sparisoma cretense, the Mediterranean parrotfish, is a species of fish found at depths down to along rocky shores of the Mediterranean and the east Atlantic from Portugal south to Senegal...
, Red Snapper
Red snapper (fish)
The red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, is a fish found in the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States and, much less commonly, northward as far as Massachusetts. In Latin American Spanish it is known as huachinango or pargo...
, Grouper
Grouper
Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes.Not all serranids are called groupers; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name grouper is usually given to fish in one of two large genera: Epinephelus...
, Wrasse
Wrasse
The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 82 genera, which are divided into nine subgroups or tribes....
, Mackerel
Mackerel
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be...
, Anchovies
Anchovy
Anchovies are a family of small, common salt-water forage fish. There are 144 species in 17 genera, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Anchovies are usually classified as an oily fish.-Description:...
, Needlefish
Needlefish
Needlefish are piscivorous fishes primarily associated with very shallow marine habitats or the surface of the open sea. Some genera include species found in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments while a few genera are confined to freshwater rivers and streams, including Belonion,...
and Frigate tuna
Frigate tuna
The frigate tuna or frigate mackerel, Auxis thazard thazard, is a subspecies of tuna, in the family Scombridae, found around the world in tropical oceans.-References:...
.
As with the rest of the Azores, tourism makes-up an important tertiary sector, associated with nautical activities such as sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, sport fishing (Tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
, Swordfish
Swordfish
Swordfish , also known as broadbill in some countries, are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood...
, and Grouper) and scuba-diving, beach activities, pedestrian hiking and, for some, rabbit hunting. São Lourenço, Praia Formosa, Maia and Anjos are known as summer tourist centers, attracting visitors to the beaches, natural pools, summer cottages/homes and festivals.
Transportation
Direct flights to the continent (Lisbon) are provided by SATA Azores International out of Santa Maria AirportSanta Maria Airport (Azores)
Santa Maria Airport is an airport on Santa Maria Island, in the autonomous region of the Azores, Portugal, serving the municipality of Vila do Porto, within the archipelago and to the continent...
located close to Vila do Porto. The airport also provides some direct connections to the rest of the archipelago through SATA Air Açores.
A inter-island ferry, owned by Azorean maritime transport operator Atlantico Line, services Santa Maria weekly. Similarly, inaugurated in 2007 the new marina at Vila do Porto allows access to the island.
Architecture
There are many examples (public buildings, churches and auxiliary structures, military constructions) of Santa Maria's cultural heritage that have been remodeled, conserved and preserved for their important histo-cultural value. Since Santa Maria was the first island to be colonized, there are older examples of these buildings and structures that lasted longer, due to no historical volcanism and fewer incidences of earthquakes.Civic
- Casa do Capitão João Soares de Sousa - located in Vila do Porto; vila of one of the Captains-major of Santa Maria.
- LORAN Station - located in Norte, Santa Bárbara; Longe-Range Navigation Station operated by NATO, deactivated and in ruins since 1980.
- Whale-Processing Station - located in Maia (Santo Espírito); in ruins since whale-hunting was prohibited
- Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse - located in Maia (Santo Espírito); also referred to as Maia Lighthouse.
- Lagar de Diogo Santos Faleiro - located in São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara); carved volcanic rocks used for squeezing grapes into wine.
Military
- Fort of Baía de São Lourenço - located in São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara); ruins (mostly rock) of fort situated beside port of São Lourenço.
- Fort of Baixa do Vigário - located in Praia Formosa (Almagreira); ruins of fort east of the Bay of Praia.
- Fort of Figueiral - located in Figuerial (Vila do Porto); ruins overlooking the Ponte do Figueiral
- Fort of Forca
- Fort of Laje de Vila do Porto - located in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)
- Fort of Maia - located in Maia (Santo Espírito)
- Fort of Prainha
- Fort of Nossa Senhora da Praia dos Anjos
- Fort of São Brás da Vila do Porto - built in the 16th Century, during Spanish occupation, location of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and obelisk to the memory of Comandante Carvalho Araújo.
- Fort of São João Baptista da Praia Formosa
- Forte de São João Evangelista
- Fort of Cabrestante
- Fort of Marvão
Religious
- Convent of São FranciscoConvent of São Francisco (Vila do Porto)The Convent of São Francisco, originally designated the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Vitória , located in the Largo of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, in the civil parish of Vila do Porto, municipality of the same name on the island of Santa Maria, in the Portuguese in the Azores.-History:In friar...
- located in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto); constructed in the 17the Century, containing ornate azulejo tiles of the period. - Chapel of Jesus, Maria and Joseph - located in São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte - located in (Santo Espírito)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Boa Nova - located in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem - located near Santana (Vila do Porto)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição - located in Largo Sousa e Silva, attached to the Fort of São Brás (Vila do Porto)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Glória - located in Glória (Santo Espírito)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça - located in Almagreira (Almagreira)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade - located in Malbusca (Santo Espírito)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde - located in São Pedro (São Pedro)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fátima - located in Fátima (São Pedro); in 1925, the first chapel to constructed following the visions at Cova de Iria (Fátima)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Lurdes - located in Norte (Santa Bárbara)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Monserrate - located in Paul (São Pedro)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Desterro - located in Desterro, São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Livramento - located along Rua do Livramento, Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Monte - located in the (private) Quinta do Monte (Almagreira)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Pilar - located in Pilar (São Pedro)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos - located in Anjos (Vila do Porto); considered the oldest religious structure on the island and where Christopher Columbus celebrated a mass in honor of his discovery in the New World.
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres - located in Maia (Santo Espírito)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios - located in Praia Formosa (Almagreira)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora Mãe de Deus - located in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)
- Chapel of Santa Rita - located in a (private) Quinta near Carreira (Almagreira)
- Chapel of Santo António - located in Santo António (Santo Espírito)
- Chapel of São Lourenço - located in São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara)
- Chapel of São Pedro Gonçalves Telmo - located beside the Largo Sousa e Silva (Vila do Porto)
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Purificação - located in Santo Espírito (Santo Espírito)
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória - located beside (and joined to) the Convent of São Francisco, Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)]]
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia - located in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)]]
- Church of Nossa Senhora do Ar - located near Santa Maria airport (Ginjal), Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)
- Church of Nossa Senhora do Bom Despacho - located in Bom Despacho (Almagreira)
- Church of Santa Bárbara - located in Santa Bárbara (Santa Bárbara)]]
- Church of Santo Antão - located in the Largo de Santo Antão, Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto)
- Church of São Pedro - located in Largo da Igreja, São Pedro (São Pedro)
- Church of Recolhimento de Santa Maria Madalena - located in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto); constructed in 1594 by Father Corvelo Resende who, along with his brothers decided to establish a monastery to the Order of Santa Clara. The first mass was celebrated in 1600.
- Church of Recolhimento de Santo António - located in Vila do Porto(Vila do Porto)
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção - located centrally in Vila do Porto (Vila do Porto); built in the 15th Century and remodeled in the 16th Century.
Festivities
Mariense culture, much like the rest of the Azores, is heavily influenced by traditional religious festivals and feasts. In particular, the festival of the "Divino Espírito Santo", closely tied to the 14th Century Queen Isabel, was implanted during the island's colonization by the Order of Christ and Franciscan monks and continues to mark the islands' calendars. These festivals include a religious ceremony, the "crowning" of one or more children with a silver-plated crown adorned with the symbols of the Holy Spirit, and culminates with a grand feast on seventh Sunday following Pentecost. On the occasion of these feasts, a traditional soup of bread soaked in a meat broth is distributed freely at the "Irmandades" and "Impérios" across the island.In addition to parochial celebrations associated with local saints, the island celebrates the festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres. On August 15 of each year, the municipality also celebrates a festival in honour of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption), the patron saint of Vila do Porto.
During the last week of August, Praia Formosa is home to a world music festival: Máre de Agosto. The beach community is regularly overrun with tourists and local visitors, who travel to the island to listen to world music acts, who in the past have included: John Lee Hooker Jr., Kíla
Kíla
Kíla are an Irish folk music/World music group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish Language secondary school, Coláiste Eoin in Co. Dublin. Kila's blend of Irish traditional music and World Music with a modern rock sensibility is generally credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish...
, Skatalites, Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, commonly known as Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy Award–winning Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva". The BBC has...
, Rui Veloso
Rui Veloso
Rui Manuel Gaudêncio Veloso, commonly known as Rui Veloso, CavIH , is a Portuguese rock singer and musician. Regarded as the "father of Portuguese rock", this composer and interpreter had a great impact on the Portuguese music scene with the record Ar de Rock .Songs such as Chico Fininho and A...
and Gentlemen.
Annual festivities com to a private close with the festival of the Confraria dos Escravos da Cadainha, in Anjos, at the beginning of September. A secular celebration, it is a fraternal private social and cultural event that celebrates the defense of Santa Maria (and in particular Anjos) from pirate attacks. It is a supported by the Centro Cultural Cristóvão Colombo.
Tradition
Based on the natural resources of clay and wool, the handicraft industry in Santa Maria is centered on pottery, ceramics and wool sweaters, ornate sheets, blankets, towels and other embroidery. Homespun garments include coarse woolen jerseys, embroidered linen shirts, embroidered women's jackets and estamin suits. Similarly, straw hats, baskets and various other objects traditionally made from wood, fish scales, corn flask and metal are sold as souvenirs. These activities have been organized by the Santa Maria Handicrafts Cooperative, which also promotes other unique Mariense products: bread, sweets, pastry-making and weaving.Traditional music and folk dancing are heavily influenced by the styles of the Beiras and Alentejo region. Several folk groups have developed on the island that reproduce the clothing styles, the music and traditional dance. Due to factors such as the climate and insular environment the style of music, songs, dance and instruments used (such as the viola de arame). Many of the dances have curious names, such as Pézinho da Garça (the Heron's dance), Moda do Moinho de Mão (the dance of the Hand Mill), Alfinete (the Pin), Balão (the Balloon), and Mouros (Moors). The Museu Etnográfico de Santo Espírito is am important place to investigate aspects of the history and culture of the island.
Apart from the Sopas do Impéro (served during Pentecosts), Santa Maria has a rich gastronomic history that includes Sopa de Nabos (a turnip soup), Bolo de Panela (a cake), Caçoila (a thick meat stew in traditional ceramic pot), Molho de Figado (a liver stew/sauce), Sopa de Peixe (a fish soup), and Caldeirada de Peixe (a mixture of fish or seafood in broth and/or bread). Sweet desserts, such as Suspiros (meringues), Melindres (honey cakes), Biscoitos Encanelados, Tigeladas (a pudding), Biscoitos de Orelha, Biscoitos Brancos, Biscoitos de Aguardente and Cavacas (sugar-coated biscuits), are also popular.
Similarly, the wines of the São Lourenço foothills, as well as other wines and sweet liqueurs, have been commercialized. These include Vinho Abafadinho and Vinho Abafado (both fortified wine liquers), Licor de Amora(mulberry liquer), Licor de Leito (milk liquer) and Aguardente
Aguardiente
Aguardiente , aiguardent , aguardente , and augardente are generic terms for alcoholic beverages that contain between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume...
, which are made using traditional techniques and favored following a dinner.
Tourism
Tourists generally favor the white sand beaches and rock pools in the communities of Anjos (Vila do Porto), Praia Formosa (Almagreira), Maia (Santo Espírito) and São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara). Praia Formosa, in particular, is known on the island for its white sand beach that stretches across the bay. In the remaining locals original natural rock pools have been replaced by concrete pools with seawater access.Note
On 8 February 1989, an American chartered Boeing 707 of Independent Air Flight 1851Independent Air Flight 1851
In 1989, Independent Air Flight 1851, a Boeing 707-331B on an American charter flight from Bergamo, Italy to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, struck Pico Alto on approach to Santa Maria Airport in the Azores for a scheduled stopover...
crashed at Pico Alto killing all 137 passengers and 7 members of the crew. There was confusion between tower and pilots as to the appropriate altitude during their approach.