Ponta Delgada
Encyclopedia
Ponta Delgada (ˈpõtɐ ˌðɛɫˈɣaðɐ) 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
, São Sebastião
, São José
.
Following the revised constitution of 1976
, Ponta Delgada is the administrative capital of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (the Regional Assembly is located in Horta
, Faial
, while the judiciary and the Roman Catholic diocese
are located in Angra do Heroísmo
, Terceira
).
, wrote:
Around 1450, Pero de Teive, established a small fishing village that eventually grew until Santa Clara.
Populated since 1444, the island of São Miguel was a vast territory, with small settlements scattered about, except for Vila Franca do Campo
in the central-southern coast, and the community of Ponta Delgada. Villa Franca had for many years been the centre of the island, and Azorean government, but many nobles and landed gentry despised having to be subordinate to the government in that town (as well as many conflicts between these inhabitants and administrators in the southern coast). The nobles in Ponta Delgada sent a secret contingent, headed by Fernão Jorge Velho, to meet with King Manuel
in Lisbon to petition that the community be emancipated. In Abrantes
, King Manuel conferred a foral
on 29 May 1507, elevating the settlement to the status of village .
Similarly, it was elevated to status of city, during the reign of King D. João III
, by decred dated 2 April 1546, after the original capital of the island (Vila Franca do Campo
) was devastated by th 1522 earthquake.
The naval Battle of Ponta Delgada
(also known as the Battle of São Miguel) took place on 26 July 1582, off the coast, as part of the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis. An Anglo-French corsair
expedition sailed against Spain to preserve Portuguese control of the Azores, which had aligned itself with the pretender António, Prior of Crato
, thereby preventing Spanish control (it was the largest French force sent overseas before the age of Louis XIV).
It was during the 19th Century, that the municipality experienced its greatest boost of economic activity, with the funnelling of citrus exports to United Kingdom and the growth of foreign-owned businesses in the historic center, many of them Jewish merchants after 1818. As with other centres across the archipelago, the town of Ponta Delgada experienced many of the trends common for the period, including the "greening" of the communities (with the construction of the gardens of António Borges, José do Canto
, Jácome Correia and Viscount of Porto Formoso, which would become part of the University of the Azores
), the construction of many of the ornate homes/estates, the clearing animals from urban spaces, the opening of newer, larger, roadways, the moving of cemeteries to the periphery, and relocation of markets for fish, meat and fruits. Due to these changes, and growth of the mercantile class, Ponta Delgada became the third largest town in Portugal, in economic riches and the number of residents. The poet Bulhão Pato, writing of Ponta Delgada, was surprised by the extraordinary riches of the plantation owners, the "gentlemen farmers" that lived within the urbanized core: exporters of oranges and corn, bankers, investors, industrialists and shippers, all contributing to a privileged class of economic and social thinkers and philanthropists.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Ponta Delgada's position was relatively high (eighth largest), although the changing importance of rural economies steadily chipped-away at its growth. But it remained the central place in the economy and hierarchy of the Azorean archipelago.
Geomorphologically, Ponta Delgada covers a volcanic area composed of two structures: the Picos Region and Sete Cidades Massif. The Picos Region extends from the shadow of the ancient volcano of the Água de Pau Massif (known locally for the lake that rests within its volcanic crater: Lagoa do Fogo) until the area around the Sete Cidades caldera. It is a volcanic axial zone oriented generally in a northwest-southeast direction, essentially defined by several spatter cones and lava flows and predominantly covered by dense vegetation and pasture-lands. Its relief is relatively planar, especially along the northern and southern coasts, where many of the urban communities are located. The Sete Cidades Massif, the other geomorphological structure that makes up the municipality of Ponta Delgada, consists of a central volcanic caldera and lake-filled cones which surround the crater. It occupies the extreme western part of the island, oriented along a similar northwest-southwest orientation, with many regional radial fractures marked by lava domes and spatter cones. The Sete Cidades Volcano at the center of the Massif consists of a caldera and a polygenetic volcanic field
within it, that includes four lakes (two of which Lagoa Azul, the Blue Lake, and Lagoa Verde, the Green Lake, are linked). The caldera is almost circular and has evolved over the course of three phases. The first occurred 36,000 years ago forming the collapsed principal structure. The second phase conforms to a period approximately 29,000 years ago, when volcanic eruptions collapsed the northwest part of the structure. Finally, the third phase (about 16,000 years ago) caused the collapse of the north and northeastern portions of the caldera. Geologically, within the last 5,000 years, the central cone has been active (17 eruptions) and responsible for causing most of the activity in the archipelago, during that period. These geological eruptions were essentially trachyte
eruptions of the sub-Plinian or Plinian
type, with hydro-magmatic characteristics. The last eruption, at about 500 years ago, gave rise to the Caldeira Seca cone. Although there has been no historical activity today, its active status continues to be debated by the scientific community.
Most recently, its diverse geography includes various types of basaltic volcanism, both effusive and less explosive (essentially Strombolian
and Hawaiian
) along its flanks, usually conditioned by local and radial faults. The Mosteiros Graben
is also a important feature in this area, representing collapse of lands on the northwestern flank of the caldera. Although there are no active aerial volcanic characteristics (like the fumarole
s of Furnas), submarine vents around the region of Ponta da Ferraria and the beach at Mosteiros have been identified.
allowing a small variation in temperatures, with annual temperatures oscillating between 14°C and 25°C, typical to a Mediterranean
or humid subtropical climate
. The Gulf Stream also contributes to a unstable weather that varies greatly during the autumn and spring, making weather forecasting on a daily basis difficult. Levels of humidity are significant enough (usually 90-100%) that temperatures fluctuations feel comparable to those experienced in locations on similar latitudes.
Much like other communities in the archipelago of the Azores, the municipality is shaped by its geography; most homes are clustered along the regional road network that circles the island, with many ancillary or agricultural access roads bisecting the central portion of the island (primarily in the Picos Region) along a north-south axis.
Administratively, the municipality is composed of 24 parishes, that handle development, in the defense of local social, cultural, recreative and environmental concerns:
Along the southern coast is the urbanized core of the historic village/town Ponta Delgada, which includes the principal civic infrastructures, high-capacity motorways , tourist and culture attractions, as well as the businesses and government services.
with: Fall River
, Massachusetts
.
), the municipality is the principal port of entry for goods entering and people arriving in the Azores. SATA International
and SATA Air Açores
have their head offices in Ponta Delgada. It is also the primary location of the services provided by the government, with many of the ministries located in this municipal seat, including the Regional Presidency and several secretariats.
In actuality, the municipality of Ponta Delgada presents a glimpse of the divergent economic events that exist in the Azores. With a strong concentration of service activities, the municipality is an important industrial and agricultural centre. The Arrifes-Covoada basin, are the main bread-basket on the island of São Miguel, in addition to all the parishes located around the rim of the Sete Cidades Massif.
In 1999, there were 1039 companies whose operational seat were in Ponta Delgada, 45.4% of the companies of the Azores. Of this companies, 4.4% were in the primary sector, 13.7% in secondary industries and 81.9% in the tertiary service sector. The volume of sales (in 2000) was equivalent to 1,458 million Euros. This value strongly lean to those service industries that have concentrated their sales volumes in the region, including banking, computer programming/services, corporate and commercial services and tourism.
In tourism, Ponta Delgada accounted for a 34% the hotel spaces in the region, and 46% of overnight trips (1997).
Several newspapers are published in Ponta Delgada, including Acoriano Oriental (one of the oldest continuing daily newspapers in the country) and the Diario dos Acores.
Near the harbour of Ponta Delgada a broad gauge
railway was used several times to build and enlarge the harbor. The track used a seven-foot gauge, but it is unclear if this was Isambard Kingdom Brunel
's Brunel gauge, or an exact 7 feet (2,134 mm) gauge.
Apart from major secular festivals, like the Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, the municipality holds a summer program of socio-cultural events in the Campo do São Francisco (located in front of the Fort of São Brás). The Noites de Verão (Nights of Summer) is a gathering place for family, friends and tourists, with many vendors selling food, refreshments or small goods. In addition, this secular festival is highlighted by nightly musical events, from popular Azorean bands/singers, folklore groups and some national/international stars. Starting usually in late June, the "nights" run until September (four months), and is sponsored/supported by the municipal government.
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 archipelago 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...
, an autonomous region of Portugal
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...
. 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
São Pedro (Ponta Delgada)
São Pedro is the easternmost parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores. It is part of the historic downtown area of Ponta Delgada that includes a 2001 population of 7,177 inhabitants...
, São Sebastião
São Sebastião (Ponta Delgada)
São Sebastião is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 4309, its density is 1290.12/km² and the area is 3.34 km². The parish is part of the downtown area of Ponta Delgada and is the second in density as well as third in population in Ponta Delgada...
, São José
São José (Ponta Delgada)
São José is a civil parish in the municipality and city of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is one of the constituent parts of the city of Ponta Delgada, including many historical, commercial and residential buildings extending from the...
.
Following the revised constitution of 1976
Political status of the Autonomous Region of the Azores
The political status of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is the standard paralegal constitutional framework for the autonomy of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores...
, Ponta Delgada is the administrative capital of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (the Regional Assembly is located in Horta
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...
, Faial
Faial Island
Faial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
, while the judiciary and the Roman Catholic diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
are located in 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...
, Terceira
Terceira Island
Referred to as the “Ilha Lilás” , Terceira is an island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 56,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 396.75 km²...
).
History
On the origin of the place's name, the famous Portuguese chronicler, Father Gaspar FrutuosoGaspar Frutuoso
Gaspar Frutuoso was a Portuguese priest, historian and humanist from the island of São Miguel, in the Azores...
, wrote:
Around 1450, Pero de Teive, established a small fishing village that eventually grew until Santa Clara.
Populated since 1444, the island of São Miguel was a vast territory, with small settlements scattered about, except for Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores...
in the central-southern coast, and the community of Ponta Delgada. Villa Franca had for many years been the centre of the island, and Azorean government, but many nobles and landed gentry despised having to be subordinate to the government in that town (as well as many conflicts between these inhabitants and administrators in the southern coast). The nobles in Ponta Delgada sent a secret contingent, headed by Fernão Jorge Velho, to meet with King Manuel
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...
in Lisbon to petition that the community be emancipated. In Abrantes
Abrantes
Abrantes is a municipality in Portugal, with a population of 41,560 inhabitants, located on the southern margin of the Tagus River.-History:...
, King Manuel conferred a foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
on 29 May 1507, elevating the settlement to the status of village .
Similarly, it was elevated to status of city, during the reign of King D. João III
John III of Portugal
John III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
, by decred dated 2 April 1546, after the original capital of the island (Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores...
) was devastated by th 1522 earthquake.
The naval Battle of Ponta Delgada
Battle of Ponta Delgada
The naval Battle of Ponta Delgada, Battle of São Miguel or Battle of Terceira took place on July 26, 1582, in the sea near the Azores, off São Miguel Island, as part of the War of the Portuguese Succession...
(also known as the Battle of São Miguel) took place on 26 July 1582, off the coast, as part of the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis. An Anglo-French corsair
Corsair
Corsairs were privateers, authorized to conduct raids on shipping of a nation at war with France, on behalf of the French Crown. Seized vessels and cargo were sold at auction, with the corsair captain entitled to a portion of the proceeds...
expedition sailed against Spain to preserve Portuguese control of the Azores, which had aligned itself with the pretender António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato
António, Prior of Crato , was a grandson of King Manuel I of Portugal, claimant of the Portuguese throne during the 1580 dynastic crisis, who was King of Portugal as António I of Portugal during 33 days in the continent in 1580, and, after the crowning of Philip II of Spain as King of Portugal,...
, thereby preventing Spanish control (it was the largest French force sent overseas before the age of Louis XIV).
It was during the 19th Century, that the municipality experienced its greatest boost of economic activity, with the funnelling of citrus exports to United Kingdom and the growth of foreign-owned businesses in the historic center, many of them Jewish merchants after 1818. As with other centres across the archipelago, the town of Ponta Delgada experienced many of the trends common for the period, including the "greening" of the communities (with the construction of the gardens of António Borges, José do Canto
José do Canto
José do Canto was Azorean landowner and intellectual who distinguished himself as a bibliographer and promoter new agricultural technologies and species into the Azores...
, Jácome Correia and Viscount of Porto Formoso, which would become part 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...
), the construction of many of the ornate homes/estates, the clearing animals from urban spaces, the opening of newer, larger, roadways, the moving of cemeteries to the periphery, and relocation of markets for fish, meat and fruits. Due to these changes, and growth of the mercantile class, Ponta Delgada became the third largest town in Portugal, in economic riches and the number of residents. The poet Bulhão Pato, writing of Ponta Delgada, was surprised by the extraordinary riches of the plantation owners, the "gentlemen farmers" that lived within the urbanized core: exporters of oranges and corn, bankers, investors, industrialists and shippers, all contributing to a privileged class of economic and social thinkers and philanthropists.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Ponta Delgada's position was relatively high (eighth largest), although the changing importance of rural economies steadily chipped-away at its growth. But it remained the central place in the economy and hierarchy of the Azorean archipelago.
Physical geography
The municipality of Ponta Delgada is one of the larger administrative divisions in the archipelago, extending from the center of the island to the western coast. Ponta Delgada is bordered on the northeast by the municipality of Riberia Grande, and southeast by relatively new municipality of Lagoa.Geomorphologically, Ponta Delgada covers a volcanic area composed of two structures: the Picos Region and Sete Cidades Massif. The Picos Region extends from the shadow of the ancient volcano of the Água de Pau Massif (known locally for the lake that rests within its volcanic crater: Lagoa do Fogo) until the area around the Sete Cidades caldera. It is a volcanic axial zone oriented generally in a northwest-southeast direction, essentially defined by several spatter cones and lava flows and predominantly covered by dense vegetation and pasture-lands. Its relief is relatively planar, especially along the northern and southern coasts, where many of the urban communities are located. The Sete Cidades Massif, the other geomorphological structure that makes up the municipality of Ponta Delgada, consists of a central volcanic caldera and lake-filled cones which surround the crater. It occupies the extreme western part of the island, oriented along a similar northwest-southwest orientation, with many regional radial fractures marked by lava domes and spatter cones. The Sete Cidades Volcano at the center of the Massif consists of a caldera and a polygenetic volcanic field
Polygenetic volcanic field
A polygenetic volcanic field is a volcanic field of scattered volcanic vents. These volcanic fields, containing numerous polygenetic volcanoes, are noted for having more than one eruptive event from the same vent, rather than the more common monogenetic volcanic field. Polygenetic volcanic fields...
within it, that includes four lakes (two of which Lagoa Azul, the Blue Lake, and Lagoa Verde, the Green Lake, are linked). The caldera is almost circular and has evolved over the course of three phases. The first occurred 36,000 years ago forming the collapsed principal structure. The second phase conforms to a period approximately 29,000 years ago, when volcanic eruptions collapsed the northwest part of the structure. Finally, the third phase (about 16,000 years ago) caused the collapse of the north and northeastern portions of the caldera. Geologically, within the last 5,000 years, the central cone has been active (17 eruptions) and responsible for causing most of the activity in the archipelago, during that period. These geological eruptions were essentially trachyte
Trachyte
Trachyte is an igneous volcanic rock with an aphanitic to porphyritic texture. The mineral assemblage consists of essential alkali feldspar; relatively minor plagioclase and quartz or a feldspathoid such as nepheline may also be present....
eruptions of the sub-Plinian or Plinian
Plinian eruption
Plinian eruptions, also known as 'Vesuvian eruptions', are volcanic eruptions marked by their similarity to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 ....
type, with hydro-magmatic characteristics. The last eruption, at about 500 years ago, gave rise to the Caldeira Seca cone. Although there has been no historical activity today, its active status continues to be debated by the scientific community.
Most recently, its diverse geography includes various types of basaltic volcanism, both effusive and less explosive (essentially Strombolian
Strombolian eruption
Strombolian eruptions are relatively low-level volcanic eruptions, named after the Italian volcano Stromboli, where such eruptions consist of ejection of incandescent cinder, lapilli and lava bombs to altitudes of tens to hundreds of meters...
and Hawaiian
Hawaiian eruption
A Hawaiian eruption is a type of volcanic eruption where lava flows from the vent in a relative gentle, low level eruption, so called because it is characteristic of Hawaiian volcanoes. Typically they are effusive eruptions, with basaltic magmas of low viscosity, low content of gases, and high...
) along its flanks, usually conditioned by local and radial faults. The Mosteiros Graben
Graben
In geology, a graben is a depressed block of land bordered by parallel faults. Graben is German for ditch. Graben is used for both the singular and plural....
is also a important feature in this area, representing collapse of lands on the northwestern flank of the caldera. Although there are no active aerial volcanic characteristics (like the fumarole
Fumarole
A fumarole is an opening in a planet's crust, often in the neighborhood of volcanoes, which emits steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The steam is created when superheated water turns to steam as its pressure drops when it emerges from...
s of Furnas), submarine vents around the region of Ponta da Ferraria and the beach at Mosteiros have been identified.
Climate
The municipality's climate, much like the rest of the Azores, is shaped by the Gulf StreamGulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
allowing a small variation in temperatures, with annual temperatures oscillating between 14°C and 25°C, typical to a Mediterranean
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
or humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
. The Gulf Stream also contributes to a unstable weather that varies greatly during the autumn and spring, making weather forecasting on a daily basis difficult. Levels of humidity are significant enough (usually 90-100%) that temperatures fluctuations feel comparable to those experienced in locations on similar latitudes.
Human geography
Much like other communities in the archipelago of the Azores, the municipality is shaped by its geography; most homes are clustered along the regional road network that circles the island, with many ancillary or agricultural access roads bisecting the central portion of the island (primarily in the Picos Region) along a north-south axis.
Administratively, the municipality is composed of 24 parishes, that handle development, in the defense of local social, cultural, recreative and environmental concerns:
- Ajuda da BretanhaAjuda da BretanhaAjuda da Bretanha is a northern civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. It is a relatively new parish, being elevated to this status when the former parish of Bretanha was divided, forming: Ajuda and Pilar...
- new rural community, broken-off in 2002 from the parish of Bretanha, with a population of less than 1500 inhabitants; - ArrifesArrifesArrifes 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 largest milk-producing region of the Azores, Arrifes' population in 2001 was less than 7000 inhabitants, concentrated in three areas: Milagres, Piedade, and Saude; - CandeláriaCandelária (Ponta Delgada)Candelária is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel island in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1184, its density approximately 136.41/km² and in an area of about 8.68 km²...
- 1184 residents lived in this community in 2001, an agricutlural zone that is also highly forested; - CapelasCapelasCapelas is a civil parish along the northern coast of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Azores...
- often assumed to be the location of many religious sanctuaries, this agricultural community (3,759 inhabitants in 2001) was named for the volcanic structures that populated the coastal areas; - CovoadaCovoadaCovoada is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The population was 1259 , dispersed in an area is 9.03 km², extending from the Sete Cidades Massif to the urban communities of Ponta Delgada .-History:The parochial church, Nossa Senhora...
- de-annexed from RelvaRelvaRelva 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...
in 1980, it is an agricultural community populated by small lakes, with 1259 inhabitants; - Fajã de BaixoFajã de BaixoFajã de Baixo is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 was 4553, its density is 1121.42/km² and the area is 4.06 km². Faja de Baixo is surrounded by mountains. It is located in the western part of the island of São Miguel and is...
- one of the peripheral suburbs of the city of Ponta Delgada, it is highly concentrated, dense parish with 1,124.2 inhabitants/km²; - Fajã de CimaFajã de CimaFajã de Cima is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Fajã de Cima is located in the central Picos region of the island of São Miguel, with a population of 3634 and area of approximately 11.89 km²...
- the northern limits of the city of Ponta Delgada, with a large residential population of 3634 inhabitants (2001); - Fenais da LuzFenais da LuzFenais da Luz is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001 its population was less than 2000 inhabitants in an administrative area that is less than approximately 10 km²...
- the community is primarily located along a plain of productive farmland, its population less than 2000 residents (2001); - FeteirasFeteirasFeteiras 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...
- a southern coastal community primarily concentrated on farming, with a population of 1709 inhabitants (2001); - GinetesGinetesGinetes is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. There were 1267 inhabitants , in an area of 12.07 km² that lies on the eastern flank of the Sete Cidades Massif, south of the parish Mosteiros, and linked via the Estrada Regional roadway to...
- an agricultural and fishing community in the western part of the municipality, there were 1267 residents living in this parish in 2001; - LivramentoLivramento (Ponta Delgada)Livramento is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Around 2001 there were approximately 3489 inhabitants in this southern coast, that extends into the interior covering an area of 5.59 km²...
- also referred to as Rosto do Cão, it is a contiuation of the urbanized area of Ponta Delgada, and home to less than 3500 residents; - MosteirosMosteiros (Ponta Delgada)Mosteiros is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 1196, its density is 130/km² and the area is 9.2 km². It is located in the northwestern part of the island of São Miguel and is connected by roads to Ponta Delgada in the south and...
- known for the islets, and hydro-thermal vents off-shore, this is the western most parish of 1196 inhabitants; - Pilar da BretanhaPilar da BretanhaPilar da Bretanha is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores. It only became an independent parish recently; on July 10, 2002, it was broken-off from the civil parish of Bretanha along with Ajuda da Bretanha.-History:In a description by...
- de-annexed in 2002 from the parish of Bretanha, this parish includes 750 residents dispersed in the foothills of the Sete Cidades Massif; - RelvaRelvaRelva 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...
- known as the location of the international airportJoão Paulo II Airport-External links:*...
, Relva is an important suburb and industrial center, with 2703 residents in 2001; - RemédiosRemédiosRemédios is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 997, its density is 178.03/km² and the area is 5.6 km². It is located in the northwestern part of the island of São Miguel and is connected by roads linking Mosteiros and Ribeira Grande...
- nestled between Bretanha and Santa Bárbara, along the northern coast, it is an area of dairy farming, with 997 inhabitants; - Santa BárbaraSanta Bárbara (Ponta Delgada)Santa Bárbara is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The population of 880 occupy an area of 8.73 km², approximately 100 inhabitants per kilometer...
- a parish with less than 100 inhabitants, between Santo António and Remedios, concentrated on agriculture; - Santa ClaraSanta Clara (Ponta Delgada)Santa Clara is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Santa Clara is part of the downtown Ponta Delgada. In July 2002, it separated from a part of the parish of São José.-Geography:...
- an industrial center in the city of Ponta Delgada, known for its football clubC.D. Santa ClaraClube Desportivo Santa Clara is a Portuguese football club from Ponta Delgada, Azores. They are the most successful football team from the Azores islands. To date, it is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, although they currently...
, as the center of the commercial fishery and manufacturing, as well as the island's fuel deposit; - Santo AntónioSanto António (Ponta Delgada)Santo António is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 2,004, its density is 170.8/km² and the area is 11.73 km². It is located in the northwestern part of the island of São Miguel and connected by roads to Mosteiros and Ribeira Grande...
- another agricultural community along the northern coast, whose population in 2001 was more than 2000 inhabitants; - São José (Ponta Delgada)São José (Ponta Delgada)São José is a civil parish in the municipality and city of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is one of the constituent parts of the city of Ponta Delgada, including many historical, commercial and residential buildings extending from the...
- one of the traditional centers of the urbanized core of Ponta Delgada, that includes many of the historical buildings, including Campo de São Francisco, Church of São José and the sanctuary of the Convent of Esperança (location of the devotional image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, used in annual celebrations around Easter); - São Pedro (Ponta Delgada)São Pedro (Ponta Delgada)São Pedro is the easternmost parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores. It is part of the historic downtown area of Ponta Delgada that includes a 2001 population of 7,177 inhabitants...
- a central parish in the city of Ponta Delgada, home to the University of the Azores, the Marina, hotels and commercial businesses, and many blocks of apartments along Avenida D. João III and Avenida Natalia Correia; - São RoqueSão Roque (Ponta Delgada)São Roque is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 4414, its density is 613.06/km² and the area is 7.2 km². is famous for its beaches which is known as Praia da Milicia which is not far from the parish. It is linked with a road connecting Ponta...
- also part of the Rosto do Cão area, it encompasses Ponta Delgada's primary beaches (Praia das Malícias and Praia do Pópulo), seaside avenues, as well as the city's municipal stadium and industrial park (Azores Parque); - São Sebastião (Ponta Delgada)São Sebastião (Ponta Delgada)São Sebastião is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 4309, its density is 1290.12/km² and the area is 3.34 km². The parish is part of the downtown area of Ponta Delgada and is the second in density as well as third in population in Ponta Delgada...
- the central baixa of the city, includes all the historical buildings, traditional commercial business, and tourist attractions, including the Municipal buildings, Portas da Cidade, Matriz Church, Hospital do Divino Espirito Santo and Courts; - São Vicente FerreiraSão Vicente FerreiraSão Vicente Ferreira is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 1664, its density is 145.96/km² and the area is 11.4 km². The Atlantic Ocean is to the north and the land is to the south. It is located in the northwestern part of the island of São...
- consists of primarily agricutlural tracts along the northern coast and population of 1664 inhabitants (2001); - Sete CidadesSete CidadesSete Cidades is also national park in the state of Piauí, Brazil, see Sete Cidades, PiauíSete Cidades is a civil parish in the center of the municipality of Ponta Delgada, that is likewise located in the center of a massive volcanic crater three miles across, also referred to as Sete Cidades...
- located within the crater of the Sete Cidades Massif, the parish is bordered by twin lakes, and considered an ex-libris of the island of São Miguel.
Along the southern coast is the urbanized core of the historic village/town Ponta Delgada, which includes the principal civic infrastructures, high-capacity motorways , tourist and culture attractions, as well as the businesses and government services.
City of Ponta Delgada
- MarinaMarinaA marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
. - Airport Ponta DelgadaJoão Paulo II Airport-External links:*...
(PDL); lies on the western edge of the city, with flights to the other islands, mainland Portugal, other European cities and North America (USA and Canada). - Universidade dos Açores (University of Azores) is in Ponta Delgada.
- Soccer teams for Ponta Delgada are Clube Desportivo Santa Clara (Liga de HonraLiga de HonraThe Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
(Honor League)), Clube União Micaelense ( 2ª Divisão BPortuguese Second DivisionThe Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
(2nd Division)) and Marítimo da Calheta (Campeonato de S.Miguel (regional league)).
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ponta Delgada is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Economy
Served by an international airport in the parish of Relva (Ponta Delgada-João Paulo II International AirportJoão Paulo II Airport
-External links:*...
), the municipality is the principal port of entry for goods entering and people arriving in the Azores. SATA International
SATA International
SATA International is an airline based in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, Portugal...
and SATA Air Açores
SATA Air Acores
SATA Air Açores is an airline based in Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal. It operates scheduled passenger, cargo and mail services around the Azores. It provides its own maintenance and handling services and manages 4 regional airports...
have their head offices in Ponta Delgada. It is also the primary location of the services provided by the government, with many of the ministries located in this municipal seat, including the Regional Presidency and several secretariats.
In actuality, the municipality of Ponta Delgada presents a glimpse of the divergent economic events that exist in the Azores. With a strong concentration of service activities, the municipality is an important industrial and agricultural centre. The Arrifes-Covoada basin, are the main bread-basket on the island of São Miguel, in addition to all the parishes located around the rim of the Sete Cidades Massif.
In 1999, there were 1039 companies whose operational seat were in Ponta Delgada, 45.4% of the companies of the Azores. Of this companies, 4.4% were in the primary sector, 13.7% in secondary industries and 81.9% in the tertiary service sector. The volume of sales (in 2000) was equivalent to 1,458 million Euros. This value strongly lean to those service industries that have concentrated their sales volumes in the region, including banking, computer programming/services, corporate and commercial services and tourism.
In tourism, Ponta Delgada accounted for a 34% the hotel spaces in the region, and 46% of overnight trips (1997).
Several newspapers are published in Ponta Delgada, including Acoriano Oriental (one of the oldest continuing daily newspapers in the country) and the Diario dos Acores.
Near the harbour of Ponta Delgada a broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway was used several times to build and enlarge the harbor. The track used a seven-foot gauge, but it is unclear if this was Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
's Brunel gauge, or an exact 7 feet (2,134 mm) gauge.
Culture
Notable natives
- Antero de QuentalAntero de QuentalAntero Tarquínio de Quental , old spelling Anthero, , a Portuguese poet, philosopher and writer, whose works became a milestone in the Portuguese language, alongside those of Camões or Bocage....
(18 April 1842 - 11 September 1891), a Portuguese poet, philosopher and writer, whose works became a milestone in the Portuguese language, through his leadership in the Questão Coimbra movement of the 19th century; - Teófilo BragaTeófilo BragaJoaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga ]] 24 February 1843 – 28 January 1924) was a Portuguese writer, playwright, politician and the leader of the Republican Provisional Government after the abdication of King Manuel II, as well as the second elected President of the First Portuguese Republic, following...
(24 February 1843; São JoséSão José (Ponta Delgada)São José is a civil parish in the municipality and city of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is one of the constituent parts of the city of Ponta Delgada, including many historical, commercial and residential buildings extending from the...
- 28 January 1924; LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), a Portuguese writer, playwright, Republican politician, leader of the Republican Provisional Government, and 2nd President of the Republic; - Roberto IvensRoberto IvensRoberto Ivens was a Portuguese explorer of Africa, Geographer, colonial administrator, and an officer of the Portuguese Navy.-Early life:...
(12 June 1850; São PedroSão Pedro (Ponta Delgada)São Pedro is the easternmost parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores. It is part of the historic downtown area of Ponta Delgada that includes a 2001 population of 7,177 inhabitants...
- 28 January 1898; Oeiras), a Portuguese explorer of Africa, geographer, colonial administrator, and an officer of the Portuguese Navy; - Pedro Miguel Carreiro Resendes, OIH (born 28 April 1973), commonly known as PauletaPauletaPedro Miguel Carreiro Resendes, OIH , commonly known as Pauleta , is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a striker....
, a footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and all-time leading goal scorer for the Portuguese National TeamPortugal national football teamThe Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
; - Fernance B. PerryFernance B. PerryFernance Bento Perry, MBE, born in 1922, is a Portuguese-Bermudian entrepreneur and business leader, who has had a prominent role in the economy of Bermuda since the mid-20th century. Originally from the Azores, his professional career has spanned such diverse fields as retail supermarkets,...
(born in 1922; Ponta Delgada), a successful business entrepreneur, philanthropist and broadcast executive, recipient of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, who emigrated to BermudaBermudaBermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
with his parents in 1926.