Praia (Azores)
Encyclopedia
Praia is a Portuguese
civil parish in the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa
, on the island of Graciosa
, in the Azores
. It still retains its former name locally, owing to the parish having once been the historical municipality of Praia.
The main centre and parish seat obtained the category, and elevated to the title, of vila (or town) during the reign of King John III
, by royal charter on 1 April 1546. It operated as the municipal seat until 1867, when its role was superseded by the much larger Santa Cruz da Graciosa
. Yet, it still retained the honorific title of vila. During this time, the settlers of the island formed historical, social and economic contacts with the peoples and economy of Terceira, in addition to those ships travelling between Europe and Brazil.
In the 16th century it had become a rich parish, and competed with Santa Cruz. In 1890, there were over 1783 habitants, but it had already begun a slow decline. Part of the population emigrated to the United States or Canada, while the remaining population relied primarily on a subsistence lifestyle for local consumption.
The parish occupies the extreme southeast, along a long valley which separates the Caldeira massif
from the rest of the island. To the interior the volcanic crater, simply the Calderia (caldera), is the largest volcanic structure on the island. Within its crater, is the Furna do Enxofre, a large cavern and subterranean lake bio-system popular with tourists. Located directly opposite the village is the Praia Islet, an important natural reserve, classified as a "Zone of Special Protection", due to the abundant marine bird species that use it for nesting and as transitory stop in annual migrations.
The population is aging in this community, and is shifting into a bedroom community of the much larger Santa Cruz.
) as fertilizer. Similarly, Graciosense were producers of tile, for the regional market, resulting in periods of boom.
Other complimentary actividades, in addition to the small garages and mechanical shops, the parish is a center of civil construction and bread makers, and has an outpost of the fiscal auditors, customs, post office and bank.
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...
civil parish in the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Santa Cruz da Graciosa is a Portuguese municipality on the island of Graciosa, in the archipelago of the Azores. Its population was 4,777 inhabitants , and included four local parishes, and one municipal government structure, that administered the entire island.-History:While the date of its first...
, on the island of Graciosa
Graciosa
Graciosa Island is referred to as the White Island, the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of 60.65 km², a length of 10 km and a width of 7 km...
, 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...
. It still retains its former name locally, owing to the parish having once been the historical municipality of Praia.
History
São Mateus was one of the first Captaincies of the Azores, and administered by its Captain-Donatorio, Duarte Barreto.The main centre and parish seat obtained the category, and elevated to the title, of vila (or town) during the reign of King John 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 royal charter on 1 April 1546. It operated as the municipal seat until 1867, when its role was superseded by the much larger Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Santa Cruz da Graciosa is a Portuguese municipality on the island of Graciosa, in the archipelago of the Azores. Its population was 4,777 inhabitants , and included four local parishes, and one municipal government structure, that administered the entire island.-History:While the date of its first...
. Yet, it still retained the honorific title of vila. During this time, the settlers of the island formed historical, social and economic contacts with the peoples and economy of Terceira, in addition to those ships travelling between Europe and Brazil.
In the 16th century it had become a rich parish, and competed with Santa Cruz. In 1890, there were over 1783 habitants, but it had already begun a slow decline. Part of the population emigrated to the United States or Canada, while the remaining population relied primarily on a subsistence lifestyle for local consumption.
Geography
Within an area of less than 13 kilometres square, the parish includes various individual rural localities, including Vila da Praia, Fenais, Fonte do Mato, Lagoa, Pedras Brancas and Feteira.The parish occupies the extreme southeast, along a long valley which separates the Caldeira massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
from the rest of the island. To the interior the volcanic crater, simply the Calderia (caldera), is the largest volcanic structure on the island. Within its crater, is the Furna do Enxofre, a large cavern and subterranean lake bio-system popular with tourists. Located directly opposite the village is the Praia Islet, an important natural reserve, classified as a "Zone of Special Protection", due to the abundant marine bird species that use it for nesting and as transitory stop in annual migrations.
The population is aging in this community, and is shifting into a bedroom community of the much larger Santa Cruz.
Economy
In addition to agriculture, a staple of the fertile lands of the Azores, Praia has been known for being an important fishing community and supplier for the economy of Graciosa. In addition to fish, fisherman have collected and dried algae (SargassumSargassum
Sargassum is a genus of brown macroalga in the order Fucales. Numerous species are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world, where they generally inhabit shallow water and coral reefs. However, the genus may be best known for its planktonic species...
) as fertilizer. Similarly, Graciosense were producers of tile, for the regional market, resulting in periods of boom.
Other complimentary actividades, in addition to the small garages and mechanical shops, the parish is a center of civil construction and bread makers, and has an outpost of the fiscal auditors, customs, post office and bank.