Piedade (Lajes do Pico)

Piedade
Civil Parish
Facing into the eastern coast, the lighthouse of Manhenha is the last building in Ponta da Ilha, in the parish of Piedade
Official name: Freguesia de Piedade
Name origin: Portuguese for piety
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Island Pico
Municipality Lajes do Pico
Localities Altamora, Areal, Biscoito Queimado, Cabecinhos, Cais do Galego, Calhau, Cruz da Redondo, Curral da Pedra, Engrade, Faias, Fetais, Manhenha, Piedade, Ponta da Ilha
Center Altamora
 - elevation 178 m (584 ft)
 - coordinates 38°25′17″N 28°3′37″W / 38.42139°N 28.06028°WCoordinates: 38°25′17″N 28°3′37″W / 38.42139°N 28.06028°W
Highest point Cabeço do Carneiro
 - location Topo
 - elevation 364 m (1,194 ft)
 - coordinates 38°25′39″N 28°4′23″W / 38.42750°N 28.07306°W
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 12.81 km2 (5 sq mi)
 - urban 1.08 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population 844 (2011)
Density 66 / km2 (171 / sq mi)
LAU Junta Freguesia
 - location Caminho do Império, Calhau
President Junta Hermenegildo Vargas da Silva (PPD/PSD)
Timezone Azores (UTC-1)
 - summer (DST) Azores (UTC0)
Postal Zone 9930-206
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Demonym Piedadense
Patron Saint Blessed Virgin Mary
Wikimedia Commons: Piedade (Lajes do Pico)

Piedade is a civil parish in the municipality of Lajes do Pico on the island of Pico, the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2011 was 844,[1] in an area of 12.81 km².[2]

History

The parish was founded after 1506, from the historical registers of the time.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake affected the community, resulting the destruction of many homes and the parochial church of the time. Before their destruction by phylloxera plague, the vineyards in this location were great producers of the popular Verdelho wines, becoming one of the more important agricultural centres on the island.

The Direcção de Serviços de Conservação da Natureza do Pico (Service Directorate of the Natural Conservancy of Pico) and Serviço de Ambiente do Pico (Environmental Services of Pico) were installed in the Parque Florestal Matos Souto (Forest Park Matos Souto), a park dedicated to commander Manuel Matos Souto, an emigrante who departed for Brazil in the 19th century, where he made his fortune (resending his monies home in order to buy land on the island).

Geography

Piedade is located on the extreme east coast of Pico, bordering the parishes of Calheta de Nesquim and Ribeirinha, and connected by the Regional E.R.1-1ª roadway to other centers on the island. The parish is divided into three distinct zones (Piedade, Calhau and Manhenha), and includes two fishing ports (Port of Manhenha and Porto of Calhau), in addition to swimming areas in the areas of Baía da Engrade, Baía do Céu de Abraão, Baía da Caravela and Baía da Fonte. The parishes includes several localities, that includes smaller non-political communities within the civil parish, including: Altamora, Areal, Biscoito Queimado, Cabecinho, Castelete, Eiras, Galego, Calhau, Cruz do Redondo, Curral da Pedra, Engrade, Faias, Fetais, Manhenha and Ponta da Ilha.

Architecture

The patrimony of the parish is diverse, although the primary buildings are the parochial church and hermitage, the curious fishing boat shelters, windmills and lighthouse. The following were classified by IGESPAR as buildings of public interest:

Civic

Religious

References

Notes
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. Eurostat
  3. Costa, Patrícia (2002), SIPA, ed., Farol da Ponta da Ilha(IPA.00012774/PT072004030006) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 12 January 2014
  4. Noe, Paula (2011), SIPA, ed., Igreja Paroquial da Piedade / Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Piedade (IPA.00032438/PT072004030015) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 12 January 2014