The Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture is a

Unesco World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

Pico Island Pico Island (''Ilha do Pico,'' ) is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores. The landscape features an eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid- ...

, part of the 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 ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

. The landscape, with 987 ha, and the surrounding

buffer zone A buffer zone is a neutral zonal area that lies between two or more bodies of land, usually pertaining to countries. Depending on the type of buffer zone, it may serve to separate regions or conjoin them. Common types of buffer zones are demili ...

with 1,924 ha, extend through most of the island's western, northwestern and southwestern coasts, with the majority on the municipality of

Madalena Madalena is a feminine given name. It is a Portuguese form of Magdalene. It may refer to: People *Madalena Alberto, Portuguese actress, singer and composer * Madalena Boavida, East Timorese politician *Maddalena Casulana, (c. 1544–c. 1590), I ...

and the rest on São Roque do Pico, at the foothills of

Mount Pico Mount Pico ( pt, Montanha do Pico) is a currently quiescent stratovolcano located on Pico Island, in the mid-Atlantic archipelago of the Azores. It is the highest mountain in Portugal, at above sea level, and is one of the highest Atlantic mount ...

. The landscape is characterized by an extensive network of long, spaced apart black

basalt Basalt (; ) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon. More than 90 ...

stone walls that run parallel to the coast and penetrate towards the interior of the island. These walls were erected to protect the vines from the wind and the salty

sea spray Sea spray are aerosol particles formed from the ocean, mostly by ejection into Earth's atmosphere by bursting bubbles at the air-sea interface. Sea spray contains both organic matter and inorganic salts that form sea salt aerosol (SSA). SSA ha ...

, which are planted in thousands of small rectangular enclosures locally called ''currais''. Also part of the landscape are the buildings (manor houses, wine cellars, warehouses, conventional houses, and churches), pathways and wells, ports and ramps, that were produced by generations of farmers enabling the production of wine. This landscape has evolved over 500 years and is exceptionally well-preserved and fully authentic in its setting, materials, continued use, function, traditions, techniques, and management systems.

Gallery

Centuries Old Vineyards (14762533930).jpg Paisagem da Cultura da Vinha da Ilha do Pico - Ilha do Pico, Portugal.jpg File:Pico Island Vineyard 3.jpg, Typical protective walls and winery's house from basalt stones in the west of the island of Pico File:Pico Island Vineyard 4.jpg, Vines planted on basaltic ground near Madalena, Pico Island, Azores. File:Pico Island White Wine Selection.jpg, Wines from Pico Island Açores 2010-07-21 (5123362725).jpg File:Pico Island Vineyard 1.jpg, A vinery and the walls around

References

*
UNESCO, Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

External links

IGESPAR Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

Explore the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture in the UNESCO collection on Google Arts and Culture
{{Outlying territories of European countries Pico Island Wine regions of Portugal World Heritage Sites in Portugal Tourist attractions in the Azores

Gallery

See also

References

External links