Covoada
Encyclopedia
Covoada is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada
, on the island of São Miguel
in the Azores
. The population was 1259 (2001), dispersed in an area is 9.03 km², extending from the Sete Cidades Massif to the urban communities of Ponta Delgada (a density of approximately 139.42/km²).
During the early settlement of São Miguel, from about 1846, this area pertained to the parish of Arrifes, passing to the territory of Relva
later, until its numbers warranted the creation of a new entity.
On March 2, 1958 the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda was destroyed in a violent fire; its retable
and the image of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda were lost. In ashes of the temple, the residents were able to save a few books and documents, and an image of the Virgin Mary that was located in the baptistery
. This image was transferred to the Seminary of Sr. Santo Cristo, in Ponta Delgada, were it today remains. During the reconstruction of the new church, in the latter part of the 20th Century, the temple received a new bell tower. The Livro de Tombo from the Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda indicated the necessity to provide an independent religious parish to the faith community on October 28, 1977.
Many years later, it was de-annexed from Relva on September 15, 1980, under Regional Decree 24/80/A.
and Arrifes
that includes prime agricultural and pasturelands, intersperesed with mountainous terrains covered in partial forest and scrub-brush. It is limitd to an area from Capelas
(in the north) to Relva
and Arrifes
(in the southwest and southeast respectively), and includes basin of the Serra Devassa, that includes Pico do Paúl, Pico Amêndoa, Pico Rochão, Pico das Maias and the Ladeira do Ledo. The available land has allowed the development of agriculture; cattle and dairy farming are the primary industrial sectors.
Located on the central part of the municipality, many of the principal agricultural roadways linking the northern and southern communities of Ponta Delgada pass through the parish, while the communities are connected via the Regional E.R.1-1ª Road to Relva
, Arrifes
, the parishes of the city of Ponta Delgada and Feteiras
. Covoada has a school, a church and a square (praça).
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
, on 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...
in the 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...
. The population was 1259 (2001), dispersed in an area is 9.03 km², extending from the Sete Cidades Massif to the urban communities of Ponta Delgada (a density of approximately 139.42/km²).
History
The parochial church, Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, dates back to the construction of a chapel in 16th Century by Captain Gaspar de Medeiros the Older (its copula was paid for by the Santa Casa de Misercórdia of Ponta Delgada).During the early settlement of São Miguel, from about 1846, this area pertained to the parish of Arrifes, passing to the territory of Relva
Relva
Relva is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 2703, its density is 223.39/km² and the area is 12.1 km². Relva are surrounded by mountains near the area including an escarpment slightly east of Relva. It is located in the southwestern part of the...
later, until its numbers warranted the creation of a new entity.
On March 2, 1958 the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda was destroyed in a violent fire; its retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
and the image of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda were lost. In ashes of the temple, the residents were able to save a few books and documents, and an image of the Virgin Mary that was located in the baptistery
Baptistery
In Christian architecture the baptistry or baptistery is the separate centrally-planned structure surrounding the baptismal font. The baptistry may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral and be provided with an altar as a chapel...
. This image was transferred to the Seminary of Sr. Santo Cristo, in Ponta Delgada, were it today remains. During the reconstruction of the new church, in the latter part of the 20th Century, the temple received a new bell tower. The Livro de Tombo from the Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda indicated the necessity to provide an independent religious parish to the faith community on October 28, 1977.
Many years later, it was de-annexed from Relva on September 15, 1980, under Regional Decree 24/80/A.
Geography
Covoada is a slender tract of land between the parishes of RelvaRelva
Relva is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 2703, its density is 223.39/km² and the area is 12.1 km². Relva are surrounded by mountains near the area including an escarpment slightly east of Relva. It is located in the southwestern part of the...
and Arrifes
Arrifes
Arrifes is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. In 2001 its population was 6941, covering an area of 25.37 km² .-History:...
that includes prime agricultural and pasturelands, intersperesed with mountainous terrains covered in partial forest and scrub-brush. It is limitd to an area from Capelas
Capelas
Capelas is a civil parish along the northern coast of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Azores...
(in the north) to Relva
Relva
Relva is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 2703, its density is 223.39/km² and the area is 12.1 km². Relva are surrounded by mountains near the area including an escarpment slightly east of Relva. It is located in the southwestern part of the...
and Arrifes
Arrifes
Arrifes is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. In 2001 its population was 6941, covering an area of 25.37 km² .-History:...
(in the southwest and southeast respectively), and includes basin of the Serra Devassa, that includes Pico do Paúl, Pico Amêndoa, Pico Rochão, Pico das Maias and the Ladeira do Ledo. The available land has allowed the development of agriculture; cattle and dairy farming are the primary industrial sectors.
Located on the central part of the municipality, many of the principal agricultural roadways linking the northern and southern communities of Ponta Delgada pass through the parish, while the communities are connected via the Regional E.R.1-1ª Road to Relva
Relva
Relva is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 2703, its density is 223.39/km² and the area is 12.1 km². Relva are surrounded by mountains near the area including an escarpment slightly east of Relva. It is located in the southwestern part of the...
, Arrifes
Arrifes
Arrifes is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. In 2001 its population was 6941, covering an area of 25.37 km² .-History:...
, the parishes of the city of Ponta Delgada and Feteiras
Feteiras
Feteiras is a civil parish in the southwestern coast of the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The mountains which are covered with trees are to the north, while the Atlantic Ocean lies to the south...
. Covoada has a school, a church and a square (praça).