The Windmills of Corvo ( pt, Moinhos de vento do Corvo/Moinhos de vento da Ponta Negra) is a group of windmills located in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Vila do Corvo Vila do Corvo () is the smallest municipality in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, constituting the island of Corvo in its entirety. With a population of 430 in 2011, it is the least populated of the Portuguese municipalities, and the onl ...

, island of Corvo, in the Portuguese archipelago of the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

History

The group of windmills were constructed during the late 19th or early 20th century. Local memory of other windmills on the island is limited; of the seven that existed, three remained by the late 20th century, conserved in a good state, and adopting the characteristics of those typical in southern Portugal or from island of Porto Santo in the archipelago of

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

. With an investment of 100,000 Euros, the town council recuperated the three windmills in order to make the site more attractive to tourists. ''"They are in a location of great honour to Corvo. They are near the airport, with view of the lighthouse, view of the sand of the new port. It is an location of excellence in Corvo"'', confirmed alderman Manuel Rita. In 2012, the council invested 38,000 Euros in the recuperation of the first of the three windmills, by a tradesman from the island of São Miguel through the ProRural financing program within the European Union. The recuperation of the windmills was only possible after the original property-owners had ceded the structures to the municipality for five years.Associated with this remodelling project, the village of Corvo had also purchased a small whaling launch from Graciosa, which was recuperated and transported to the parish, to preserve the island's whaling tradition.

Architecture

The windmills are located at the isolated southern tip of Corvo, opposite the

airfield An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publ ...

on the small inclined parcel known as Ponta Negra, near the small light of Ponta Negra. The group consists of three, conical windmills, built from masonry stone: two plastered and painted white, while the other remains in a natural state.Luís Bettencourt (2008), p.34 It is covered in conical rooftop that rotates, made of wood, from which springs the main shaft and sail axis. The base of the windmills consists of circular basalt stone, broken by small symmetrical staircase. The only point of entry is the main door, at the top of the staircase, elevated from the small platform/landing.

References

;Notes ;Sources * * * {{citation , title=Moinhos de Vento dos Açores: novo papel na sociedade contemperânea , first=Luís , last=Bettencourt , publisher=Instituto Açoriano da Cultura , url=http://siaram.azores.gov.pt/patrimonio-cultural/moinho-vento/Livro-Moinhos-LB.pdf , location=Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal , year=2008 , language=Portuguese Windmills Buildings and structures in Vila do Corvo Windmills Corvo