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Matriz (Horta)
Encyclopedia
Matriz is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta
, in the Portuguese
Azores
, which is part of the urbanized core of the city of Horta. In 2001, its population was 2523, in an area approximately 1.62 km² (a density of 1,557.4/km²); it is the smallest parish, densest and second-most populous parish on the island.
pioneer Josse van Huerter
, that originally settled and developed the area of Matriz. The religious parish, Matriz do Santissimo Salvador, was created from successive growth, and the area become integrated into the larger village of Horta, and municipal seat, in 1498 by the royal decree of King Manuel I of Portugal
.
The primitive Church Matriz de São Salvador was completed and inaugurated on June 28, 1514; it compliments the Flemish
church of the same name in Bruges
and the Sé
of Angra do Heroísmo
. It was successively sacked in 1589, then 1597, by English privateers.
In 1643, Diogo das Chagas
identified that the area of the Matriz had about 1,985 inhabitants in 449 homes. It was also a centre of the faith community during the period of exploration; the home to several churches and religious sanctuaries, that include: the Jesuit Church and Convent, the Church of Misericórdia (Mercy), the Convent of São João, the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Glória, the Convento de Santo António, the Império dos Nobres (in homage to the 1672 volcanic eruption) and the old Clock Tower (former tower of another destroyed church).
(along its southern border), Conceição
(along its northern), and the landlocked parish of Flamengos
(towards the west)): it fronts Horta Bay, and the island of Pico
towards the east. Generally, the parish is a gently sloping tract of land that slopes towards the interior (Flamengos), that is highly urbanized and which constitutes the core the city of Horta.
Most commercial, administrative and residential uses are concentrated in this parish, including the Regional Assembly, many of the historical churches, convents and social services, antique farmers market, post office, archive and other public buildings. Landmarks includes the Horta Museum, Sociedade Recreativa Amor da Pátria, Império dos Nobres (Empire of Nobles), Horta's clock tower, the former Walter Bensaúde Hospital (future expansion of the Department of Oceanography and Ichthyology of the University of the Azores
, a panoramic view at Monte Carneiro and the Horta Archive and the Public Library (the old Bensaúde House, Port.: Casa Bensaúde).
Matriz also has a school, a lyceum, churches (including one named Igreja Matriz do SS.º Salvador da Horta), a nearby beach, and a few squares (praças).
Horta (Azores)
Horta is a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipealgo of the Azores, encompassing the island of Faial. Horta has a population of about approximately 15,038 people and an area of 173.1 square kilometers. The population density is about 88 persons per square kilometer...
, in the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of 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...
, which is part of the urbanized core of the city of Horta. In 2001, its population was 2523, in an area approximately 1.62 km² (a density of 1,557.4/km²); it is the smallest parish, densest and second-most populous parish on the island.
History
It was the second Captain-major of Faial, Joss d'Utra, son of the FlemishFlemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
pioneer Josse van Huerter
Josse van Huerter
Josse van Huerter , also known by several transliterations was the first settler, and captain-major of the island of Faial in the Portuguese Azores. After 1482, the island of Pico was also incorporated into his captaincy...
, that originally settled and developed the area of Matriz. The religious parish, Matriz do Santissimo Salvador, was created from successive growth, and the area become integrated into the larger village of Horta, and municipal seat, in 1498 by the royal decree of King Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
.
The primitive Church Matriz de São Salvador was completed and inaugurated on June 28, 1514; it compliments the Flemish
Flemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
church of the same name in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and the Sé
Sé (Angra do Heroísmo)
Sé is a parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1200, its population density was 727.27/km², and the land area is 1.65 km². It is one of the most populated and the smallest, in terms of land area, of the parishes in Angra...
of Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
. It was successively sacked in 1589, then 1597, by English privateers.
In 1643, Diogo das Chagas
Diogo das Chagas
Diogo das Chagas was a Franciscan monk and Azorean historian, author of Espelho Cristalino, an important resource on the colonization of the islands of the central and western groups of the Portuguese Azores, after 1640.-Biography:He was the son of Mateus Coelho da Costa, Captain-major of the...
identified that the area of the Matriz had about 1,985 inhabitants in 449 homes. It was also a centre of the faith community during the period of exploration; the home to several churches and religious sanctuaries, that include: the Jesuit Church and Convent, the Church of Misericórdia (Mercy), the Convent of São João, the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Glória, the Convento de Santo António, the Império dos Nobres (in homage to the 1672 volcanic eruption) and the old Clock Tower (former tower of another destroyed church).
Geography
Matriz is buttressed between its urban neighbors AngústiasAngústias
Angústias is one of the three civil parishes that form the city of Horta, on the island of Faial in the archipelago of the Azores. This is an economically active, densely-populated area with the second-smallest area , but with the largest population in the municipality of Horta...
(along its southern border), Conceição
Conceição (Horta)
Conceição is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001 it counted a population of 1157 inhabitants with territorial limits of 2.74 km² between Espalamaca and the parish of Matriz in Horta, although it is the second smallest parish within the administration...
(along its northern), and the landlocked parish of Flamengos
Flamengos
Flamengos is a Portuguese civil parish on the island of Faial in the archipelago of the Azores. Its name was derived from the grouping of Flemish settlers who made their homes in this landlocked valley, in the municipality of Horta...
(towards the west)): it fronts Horta Bay, and the island of Pico
Pico Island
Pico Island , is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge...
towards the east. Generally, the parish is a gently sloping tract of land that slopes towards the interior (Flamengos), that is highly urbanized and which constitutes the core the city of Horta.
Most commercial, administrative and residential uses are concentrated in this parish, including the Regional Assembly, many of the historical churches, convents and social services, antique farmers market, post office, archive and other public buildings. Landmarks includes the Horta Museum, Sociedade Recreativa Amor da Pátria, Império dos Nobres (Empire of Nobles), Horta's clock tower, the former Walter Bensaúde Hospital (future expansion of the Department of Oceanography and Ichthyology of the University of the Azores
University of the Azores
The University of the Azores , or commonly abbreviated as UAç, is the only public university in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, It was founded on January 9, 1976, two years after the Carnation Revolution that ended several decades of dictatorship in Portugal, but before the Portuguese Third...
, a panoramic view at Monte Carneiro and the Horta Archive and the Public Library (the old Bensaúde House, Port.: Casa Bensaúde).
Matriz also has a school, a lyceum, churches (including one named Igreja Matriz do SS.º Salvador da Horta), a nearby beach, and a few squares (praças).