Santa Bárbara (Vila do Porto)

A vintage photograph of the valley of Santa Bárbara circa 1903, when there were less homes in the valley

The settlement of this place originated sometime in the 16th century, since around 1584, the Bay of São Lourenço was identified as La Prainha, later referred to as the Villa da prainha. The settlers of Santo Espírito and Santa Bárbara originated from the rural areas of the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo, and can be verified from the topological influences in the rural homes and villages of the region.[3]

As Gaspar Frutuoso noted: "The other [parish], of Santa Bárbara, is within the sierra, of the same band from Norte, a league and a half from Vila [do Porto]."[4] Frutuoso went on to explain:

"...it is a parish of 40 homes and 110 confessional souls, more or less; where the first curate Bartolomeu Luís, native of the island of São Miguel, of who I did not confirm the church, because he wanted a benefit in the Vila. And Amador Fernandes, native of this same island, was the first confirm vicar; the second was, José Gonçalves, who renounced the possession; and the present is vicar Manuel Fernandes, native of the same island of Santa Maria; in which parish live very honourable people."[5]

The inhabitant settlements of the region formed from the distribution of its settlers, who occupied various places, some separated by large distances.[3] Many of these points were connected by dirt roads, that were not easy to travel throughout the year, and the area obtained the non-ephemeral Terras do Nordeste (Lands of the Northeast).[3]

The description of the parish in the Álbum Açoriano (1903) refers to the parish as the poorest on the island, whose inhabitants are involved in the cultivation of wheat, potato and raising of cattle.[6]

Gaspar Frutuoso noted that the history of these lands were influenced by its settlers and parishioners, including Father Ângelo Ângelo Soares da Câmara, who was responsible for the supporting the nascent communities, sacrificing his religious benefits to the impoverished in the region.[3] He was active in the construction of a potable water supply, including the fountain near the church, a new cemetery and other various improvements throughout his curate.[3][6]

Owing to the hardships associated with a difficult physical relief and climate, many of the early poor suffered from a lack of foodstuffs.[3] The region was dependent on the water mills to mill flour, and during the summer a lack of water meant that no milling occurred.[3] Some innovative farmers constructed local mills, powered by oxen, horse or donkey that allowed them to mill grain or corn for their respective families or friends.[3] The construction of windmills, particularly at Arrebentão permitted continuous milling, but dependent on wind.[3]

The parish ceded, between 1965 and 31 December 1977, lands in Norte for a LORAN station (the LORAN Station of Santa Maria), that functioned as a pole for the Atlantic and coordinated long-range navigation with the stations in Flores and Porto Santo.[7] At its time, the complex was built and operated by French military, who built a community that included not only the operational facilities, but residences and homes for its functionaries, that included streets, sports field and green-spaces.[7] Following its closer, security was maintained until the middle of the 1980s, when it was abandoned, scavenged by locals and left in ruins.[7]

The potable water distribution was inaugurated in the parish on 11 December 1966, while access to potable water only filtered to the rest of the communities by 1983.

The red basaltic geological formation of Poço da Pedreira mined for the red stone

The parish is located between the Ribeira do Salto and Ponta do Norte, with its main nucleus along a valley, in an area of southeastern Santa Maria, about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the seat of Vila do Porto. Its geographic location on the island has resulted in it being referred to as the Sol Nascente parish (roughly, the sun dawn), owing to it being the first of the archipelagos of the Azores to glimpse the dawn (approximately 24 minutes earlier than the most distant community, on the island of Flores). With an area of approximately 15.34 square kilometres (5.92 sq mi), Santa Bárbara is bounded in the north and east by the sea, south by the neighboring parish of Santo Espírito and south by São Pedro.

Human geography

The scenic landscape of the former caldera, village and bay of São Lourenço

Its accented relief of hills and valleys resulted in isolated communities of less than 100 inhabitants, with the largest being the seat of the parish (Santa Bárbara). Other communities in this parish included the localities of Termo da Igreja, Lagos, Lagoinhas, Feteiras de Santa Bárbara, Pocilgas, Pico do Penedo, Poço Grande, Boavista, Forno, Fajã de São Lourenço, Norte, Arrebentão and Tagarete, all located along the regional E.R. 1-1ª roadway that circles the island.

Apart from the socio-administrative centre of Santa Bárbara, the civil parish is identifiable by the Bay of São Lourenço, and locality of São Lourenço along the eastern coast.[8] This landscape was formed from a partially destroyed caldera, resulting in its concave form oriented towards the sea, with terraces constructed along its exterior walls to support agriculture.[8] The coastal area was built by successive generations, originally establishing residences at the water's edge, but successively branching into the interior. The concave coastal area includes several tourist-oriented villas, wine cellars and summer cottages used by locals throughout the year, in addition to the native community.[8]

Agriculture is the primary resource in the parish, supplemented by some people involved in fishery, commerce and tourism.

São Lourenço is the tourist centre of activities in the civil parish, owing to its ocean frontage, scenic vista and microclimate.[8] The neighbouring community of Maia, is sometimes confused by tourists, owing to their similar access and coastal position. The local microclimate of this region was also responsible for the growth of an early wine-making industry, highlighted by the terraced parcels located along the clifftops overlooking the residential and tourist cottages.[8]

The generator and mechanical buildings of the abandoned LORAN Station in Norte

The parochial Church of Santa Bárbara constructed in the 17th century, and centre of parish activity

The 17th or 18th century hermitage dedicated to Jesus, Mary and Joseph in São Lourenço

• Bridge of Boavista (Portuguese: Ponte de Boavista), a simple single-arch bridge dating to the 19th century, in the area of Boavista;
• Church Bridge of Santa Bárbara (Portuguese: Ponte-Igreja), the simple single-arch bridge was constructed in 1881, and links the area of Pocilgas to Termo da Igreja;
• Windmills of Arrebentão (Portuguese: Moinhos de vento de Arrebentão), the remains of the bases of several windmills utilized during the 19th century for millings of flower, classified as regional Property of Public Interest;

Notes

Sources

• IAC/DRC, ed. (29 March 2000), "11.68.65 SÃO LOURENÇO: Ficha 56/Santa Maria", Arquivo da Arquitectura Popular dos Açores (in Portuguese), Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Instituto Açoriano de Cultura/Direção Regional de Cultura, retrieved 2 November 2013
• IAC/DRC, ed. (31 March 2000), "11.67.74 ESTAÇÃO LORAN: Ficha D-7", Inventário do Património Histórico e Religioso para o Plano Director Municipal de Vila do Porto (in Portuguese), Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Instituto Açoriano de Cultura/Direção Regional de Cultura, archived from the original on 15 March 2008, retrieved 2 November 2013

• (in Portuguese) A website about Santa Bárbara