Santo Espírito

Santo Espírito
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
The Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse, the main ex-libris of the village of Maia, and the parish of Santo Espírito
Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia do Santo Espírito
Name origin: santo espírito, Portuguese for holy spirit
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Group Central
Island Santa Maria
Municipality Vila do Porto
Localities Almas, Azenha de Baixo, Azenha de Cima, Boavista, Cardal, Calheta, Cruz, Feteirinha, Fonte do Jordão, Glória, Lapa de Baixo, Lapa de Cima, Loural, Maia, Malbusca, Meio Moio, Panasco, Piedade, Santo António, Santo Espírito, Terra do Raposo
Landmark Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse
Center Santo Espírito
 - elevation 311 m (1,020 ft)
 - coordinates
Highest point Cavacas
 - elevation 494.72 m (1,623 ft)
 - coordinates
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Length 7.20 km (4 mi), Northwest-Southeast
Width 6.39 km (4 mi), Southwest-Northeast
Area 26.68 km2 (10 sq mi)
 - land 25.86 km2 (10 sq mi)
 - urban .82 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population 723 (2001)
LAU Freguesia/Junta Freguesia
 - location Termo da Igreja, Santo Esírito, Vila do Porto
 - elevation 310 m (1,017 ft)
 - coordinates
President Junta Alberto José de Loura Chaves
President Assembleia José António Tavares Sousa
Timezone Azores (UTC-1)
 - summer (DST) Azores (UTC0)
ISO 3166-2 code PT-
Postal Zone 9580-238 Santo Espírito
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Demonym Mariense
Patron Saint Nossa Senhora da Purificação
Parish Address Termo da Igreja
9580-238 Santo Espírito
Location of the civil parish of Santo Espírito within the municipality of Vila do Porto
Wikimedia Commons: Santo Espírito (Vila do Porto)
Statistics from INE (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)

Santo Espírito (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsɐ̃tu ɨʃˈpiɾitu]) 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. It is connected with a road linking to Vila do Porto.

Contents

Geography

The parish borders the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, and it is the largest parish by area covering an expanse of hills, mounts and vegetation-rich escarpments. It is the third most populated in the municipality of Vila do Porto, but its rural communities are very dispersed. Until recently most communities were limited to dirt-road paths and trails to connect them. It is now served by the regional road network, circling the island, and most rural communities have paved roadways.

Ecoregions/Protected areas

Recreational Forest Reserve of Fontinhas

Human geography

The parish is made up of several scattered communities, that include: Termo da Igreja, Malbusca, Calheta, Panasco, Glória, Cruz, Cardal, Boavista, Fonte do Jordão, Terras do Raposo, Lapa, Feteirinha, Almas, Santo António, Azenha, Loural and Maia.

Architecture

Civic

Religious