Ribeira Grande (Azores)
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Ribeira Grande (, ) is a
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 ...
in the northern part of the island of São Miguel in the
Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...
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 ...
. The population in 2011 was 32,112, in an area of 180.15 km2. The municipal seat is located in the civil parish of Matriz, with a population of about 4000 inhabitants, part of the urbanized core of what is commonly referred to as the city of Ribeira Grande (six civil parishes, about 10000 inhabitants).


History

The first settlers arrived on the island by the end of the second quarter of the 15th century. The expansion of settlement occurred after initiatives by the island's third
donatary captain A donatary captain was a Portuguese colonial official to whom the Crown granted jurisdiction, rights, and revenues over some colonial territory. The recipients of these grants were called (donataries), because they had been given the grant as a ( ...
,
Rui Gonçalves da Câmara Rui Gonçalves da Câmara (c. 1430 – 27 November 1497), was the second son of João Gonçalves Zarco, and inherited the title of Donatary-Captain of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Rui Gonçalves da Câ ...
(son of
João Gonçalves Zarco João Gonçalves Zarco ( 1390 – 21 November 1471) was a Portuguese explorer who established settlements and recognition of the Madeira Islands, and was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator. Life Zarco was born in Portugal ...
, resulting in northern colonies from peoples from
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 ...
. Although the early settlement of Ribeira Grande is mired in murkiness owing to the lack of resources, the best sources indicate that settlement began in the late-15th or early-16th centuries. The first settlers to this region are to the northern part of the island by the end of the 15th century.Gaspar Frutuoso, ''Saudades da Terra'', Livro IV, VII (1981) On arriving, these colonists established their settlement along the ravine, which they eventually named after the river course: Ribeira Grande. What is certain is that before 1507, in the urban areas of today's Ribeira Grande, there were already colonists of a "certain social stature" living and raising cattle. One of these was Antão Rodrigues da Câmara, the bastard son Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, donatary-captain of São Miguel. His parentage was legitimized on 6 January 1499, and his property (situated in Ribeirinha) was described as an estate, with lands of woodlands, pasture and waters, with houses supported by granaries, haylofts, pastel engine, vineyards and orchards, received as part of his '' morgadia'' dated 17 April 1508. The construction of the isolated Port of Santo Iria began at the beginning of the 16th century. Even before being raised to the status of town (at the beginning of the 17th century), the population had already grown dramatically. This was recorded in a 1507 accord that established a master builder for the new church, assumed to be the parochial church of ''Nossa Senhora da Estrela''. The elevation of Ponta Delgada to "town" in 1499, must have influenced the resident nobles of Ribeira Grande, who moved to have the same authority established for their burgh. Although the people involved were unfamiliar,
Gaspar Frutuoso Gaspar Frutuoso (c.1522 in Ponta Delgada – 1591 in Ribeira Grande) was a Portuguese priest, historian and humanist from the island of São Miguel, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. His major contribution to Portuguese history was hi ...
indicated that King
Manuel I Manuel I may refer to: *Manuel I Komnenos, Byzantine emperor (1143–1180) *Manuel I of Trebizond, Emperor of Trebizond (1228–1263) *Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was ...
conceded to the locality of Ribeira Grande the privilege of ''town'' on 4 August 1507, that included ''a league around the centre, counted from the entralpillory'', comprising one parish (called ''Nossa Senhora da Purificação'' or ''Nossa Senhora da Estrela''). It was Lopo Arês who brought the signed document from Lisbon, when he returned in 1508. On 3 April 1508, then donatary captain, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, oversaw the swearing in of Jorge da Mota (ordinary judge of Vila Franca do Campo) and João do Penedo and António Carneiro, noblemen of Ribeira Grande, to select twelve residents to vote on the six elected officials for the new town. It was this process that eventually elected the first municipal council, that served until 24 June 1509. Writing at the beginning of the 15th century,
Gaspar Frutuoso Gaspar Frutuoso (c.1522 in Ponta Delgada – 1591 in Ribeira Grande) was a Portuguese priest, historian and humanist from the island of São Miguel, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. His major contribution to Portuguese history was hi ...
wrote about the settlement, in these terms: :"''The town of Ribeira Grande, noble by its residents, rich in its lands, well shaded with its fields and fertile with its fruits, is situated in and around its great ravine, from which it received its name, almost in the middle of the island, in a large bay in a band of the north, at the feet of a sierra very fresh hat is near its plain, is a thing highlights the other, making its grouply more gracious then other towns and the ravine cuts the town in two parts, of a small time, because until the year one thousand and fifty-five there was no bridge to the western part to more than two houses only. But, later after much growth, that it is today the largest town, richer and more people then there are in all the Bishopric of Angra. Before it was suffragate of Vila Franco do Campo, until the King Dom Manuel, explain on his pillory for all parts around.''" Settlers continued to be sent to the area of Ribeira Grande, by Lopo de Ares, owing to the location's access to water and the pre-existing colonists that already provided land rents. Since it was located far from the provincial capital of Vila Franca, the town was elevated to the status of town by King Manuel in 1507. Until 1515, the western margin of the Ribeira Grande river was occupied by just two homes. A few years later, from a land record of 4 July 1520, there was a contract for stone to build a bridge alongside the main square, awarded to Fernão Álvares. Budgeted for 400.000
reais The Brazilian real ( pl. '; sign: R$; code: BRL) is the official currency of Brazil. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. The Central Bank of Brazil is the central bank and the issuing authority. The real replaced the cruzeiro real in 1994. ...
, the completed bridge was described as having one large arch with a 12 ''côvados'' span, equivalent to span, and width of 22 ''palms'', equivalent to , built of the ''best stonework that was found around the town, and well worked''. From 1536, the monastery of Jesus was founded, in order to shelter the youth of wealthy governing families, resulting in the appearance of the toponymy ''Rua das Freiras'' and ''Largo das Freiras''. This was a reflection of the growth of the settlement, which continued to expand regularly; in 1515 there were 200 homes; the parish of ''Nossa Senhora da Estrela'' had 800 by 1576 (on this date there were 1018 homes and 3534 ''souls'' in the municipality; and 1237 homes by 1593, with indications that the population of the municipality rounded 5000 inhabitants by this time. The growth of the demographics of the municipality necessitated that the ecclesiastical administration create new parishes, resulting in the creation of the parishes of São Pedro (in Ribeira Seca) by 1577 by bishop D. Gaspar de Faria. Since its formation the town employed a ''arruador'', who was responsible for "designing" the ''grounds and roads and houses that were made''. Pêro Teixeira, who died in 1555, was the first, and was succeeded on 9 February by his successor. At the time of Pêro Teixeira's death town records point to the existence of various roadways established under his authority: ''Ruas de João do Outeiro'', ''Rua da Conceição'', ''Rua de Lourenço Gonçalves'', ''Rua da Bica'', ''Rua do Santo Espírito'', ''Rua de Francisco Gonçalves Cheira-Dinheiro'', ''Rua das Pedras'', ''Rua do Rosário'', ''Rua de João da Horta'' and references to the cobble-stoning other roads. A large part of these roads continue in the current toponymy of the town. Similarly, the a clock was established in the tower of the church in 1555 and in 1578, a bell was installed in the municipal palace tower and a new butcher appeared, attesting to the development of the urban metropolo. In other parts of the municipality, such as Rabo de Peixe, its primitive parochial church was substituted by a larger three-nave structure, that presented an ornate painting of St. Peter attributed to Vasco Fernandes (1480-1543). Between 1612 and 1626, the Convent of São Francisco was constructed, reflecting the importance of the northern community. This growth mandated the reorganization of the island, resulting in the division of São Miguel into three municipalities: Ponta Delgada, Vila Franca do Campo and Ribeira Grande. The aspiration to obtain the status of city began in 1852; plans for the future city were then constituted by the parishes of Nossa Senhora da Estrela (today Matriz) and Nossa Senhora da Conceição (the actual Conceição). But, nothing ever became of this project. During the intervening years the continuous growth and expansion of the burgh continued: this resulted in the construction of the Church of the Misericórdia (18th century); and need to construct a new link across the main ravine. It was during the 19th century, that the ''bridge of eight arcs'' ( pt, Ponte de Oito Arcos) was completed, to complement the old one arch bridge at the main square. Further expansion of the road network continued: the ''Rua das Pedras'' (today the ''Rua Sousa e Silva'') was open, as was the ''Avenida Camões'' and the new access to the port of Santa Iria was inaugurated. It was only on 29 June 1981 that the municipal centre obtained the status of ''city''.


Geography


Physical geography

The municipality is one of the six that constitute the island of São Miguel. It occupies most of the northern section of the island, from the Atlantic coast to the volcanic mountains in the center of the island. It is the only municipality on São Miguel to share boundaries with all five other municipalities: it is bounded by
Nordeste The Northeast Region of Brazil ( pt, Região Nordeste do Brasil; ) is one of the five official and political regions of the country according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Of Brazil's twenty-six states, it comprises ni ...
(east), Povoação (southeast),
Ponta Delgada Ponta Delgada (; ) is the largest municipality (''concelho'') and economic capital of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Portugal. It is located on São Miguel Island, the largest and most populous in the archipelago. As of 2021, it has 67,28 ...
(west), Lagoa and
Vila Franca do Campo Vila Franca do Campo () is a town and municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores. The population of the municipality was 11,229 in 2011, in an area of 77.97 km². The town ...
(south). All the municipalities are linked by several regional roads that circle the island or cross the mountains in the central section. The relief is dominated by the Serra de
Água de Pau Água de Pau is a civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 3,058, in an area of 17.46 km². It contains the localities Água de Pau, Caloura, Cerco, Cinzeiro, Galera an ...
, which includes a caldeira occupied by the ''Lagoa do Fogo'' (''Lake of Fire''). The highest elevation is Pico da Barrosa at (overlooking ''Lagoa do Fogo'') or Monte Escuro at ; this volcanic massif also extends to the plateau of Graminhais, by the eastern border with Nordeste, where the Pico do Salto do Cavalo has a well known lookout. The volcanic geology, associated to the occurrence of many springs in the foothills, have been responsible for the fast creeks flowing in deep ravines, one of which gave its name to the town. Other volcanic manifestations in the area are fumaroles, such as ''Caldeira Velha'' or ''Caldeiras'', and mineral hot springs at Lombadas, Gramas and Ladeira da Velha. In addition to the river valleys and mountains, there are several beaches, including the main beaches in Ribeira Grande (Santa Bárbara and Monte Verde), Moinhos Beach (at Porto Formoso) and Viola Beach (in the shadow of Lomba da Maia).


Human geography

The municipality is divided into 14 sub-regional administrative authorities, or ''freguesias'' (''civil parishes''): *
Calhetas Calhetas is a ''freguesia'' ("civil parish") in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in 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 , ...
*
Conceição (Ribeira Grande) Conceição is a ''freguesia'' ("civil parish") in the district of Ribeira Grande in 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 , ...
*
Fenais da Ajuda Fenais da Ajuda is a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 1,131, in an area of 13.36 km².Lomba da Maia Lomba da Maia is a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2011 was 1,152, in an area of 20.47 km2. It is situated on a plateau that overlooks the northern coast and the neighboring pari ...
*
Lomba de São Pedro Lomba de São Pedro is a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese in the archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 284, in an area of 8.25 km². Lomba de São Pedro is the least-populated parish in Rib ...
*
Maia Maia (; Ancient Greek: Μαῖα; also spelled Maie, ; la, Maia), in ancient Greek religion and mythology, is one of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes, one of the major Greek gods, by Zeus, the king of Olympus. Family Maia is the daugh ...
*
Matriz (Ribeira Grande) Matriz is a parish in the district of Ribeira Grande in 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 Azo ...
, the main urbanized area, and seat of the municipality, it has a population of just under 4000 inhabitants, and is the socio-cultural centre (location of many of the historical architectural buildings/structures); *
Pico da Pedra Pico da Pedra ( pt, pyramidal peak, peak of the rock (geology), rock) is a freguesia, civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande (Azores), Ribeira Grande in the Portugal, Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 2,90 ...
* Porto Formoso *
Rabo de Peixe Rabo de Peixe (Portuguese language, Portuguese for "fish tail") is a freguesia, civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande (Azores), Ribeira Grande in the Portugal, Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 8,866, in ...
* Ribeira Seca * Ribeirinha * Santa Bárbara * São Brás The largest parish in population (and density) is Rabo de Peixe, while the smallest is São Brás. In area, the largest parish is Maia, and the smallest is Calhetas. The highest village is Lomba da Maia.


Twin towns — sister cities

Ribeira Grande is twinned with: *
Somerville Somerville may refer to: *Somerville College, Oxford, a constituent college of the University of Oxford Places *Somerville, Victoria, Australia * Somerville, Western Australia, a suburb of Kalgoorlie, Australia * Somerville, New Zealand, a subur ...
, United States *
Fall River Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state. Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...
, United States * East Providence, United States *
Laval Laval means ''The Valley'' in old French and is the name of: People * House of Laval, a French noble family originating from the town of Laval, Mayenne * Laval (surname) Places Belgium * Laval, a village in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, Luxem ...
, Canada *
Porto Alegre Porto Alegre (, , Brazilian ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Its population of 1,488,252 inhabitants (2020) makes it the List of largest cities in Brazil, twelfth most populous city in the country ...
, Brazil *
Ribeira Grande de Santiago Ribeira Grande de Santiago is a ''concelho'' (municipality) of Cape Verde. It is situated in the southwestern part of the island of Santiago. Its seat is the city Cidade Velha. Its population was 8,325 at the 2010 census, and its area is 137.3&nbs ...
, Cape Verde *
Paul Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...
, Cape Verde *
Porto Novo Porto-Novo (Portuguese: "New Port", , ; yo, Àjàṣẹ́, ), also known as Hogbonu and Ajashe, is the capital of Benin. The commune covers an area of and as of 2002 had a population of 223,552 people. Situated on an inlet of the Gulf of Gu ...
, Cape Verde *
Ribeira Grande Ribeira Grande may refer to the following places: Cape Verde *Ribeira Grande (stream), a stream on the island of Santo Antão *Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde, a town on the island of Santo Antão *Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde (municipality), a municipali ...
, Cape Verde


Architecture


Civic

* Arquipelago Center of the Arts ( pt, Arquipélago Centro de artes contemporâneas) * Augusto César Ferreira Cabido Home ( pt, Asilo de Mendicidade Augusto César Ferreira Cabido/Lar Augusto César Ferreira Cabido) * Estate of Boa Viagem ( pt, Solar da Boa Viagem/Casa das Calhetas) * Estate of Mafoma ( pt, Solar da Mafoma) * Estate of Nossa Senhora do Vencimento ( pt, Solar de Nossa Senhora do Vencimento) * Estate of São Sebastião ( pt, Solar de São Sebastião e Capela) * Judicial Court of Ribeira Grande ( pt, Judicial Court of Ribeira Grande) * Lighthouse of Ponta do Cintrão ( pt, Farol da Ponta do Cintrão) * Municipal Palace/Hall of Ribeira Grande ( pt, Paços do Concelho da Ribeira Grande) * Philharmonic Society ''Progressive of the North'' ( pt, Sociedade Filarmónica Progresso do Norte) * Rabo de Peixe Fishermens' Barrio ( pt, Bairro de Casas para Pescadores de Rabo de Peixe) * Santa Bárbara Parochial and Social Centre ( pt, Centro Social e Paroquial de Santa Bárbara) * Theatre Ribeiragrandense ( pt, Teatro Ribeira Grandense) * Thermal Springs of Caldeiras ( pt, Termas das Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande)


Churches

* Seventh-day Adventist Church of Lomba de São Pedro ( pt, Igreja Adventista do Sétimo Dia em Lomba de S. Pedro) * Church of Espírito Santo ( pt, Igreja e Hospital da Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Ribeira Grande/Igreja dos Passos/Igreja do Espírito Santo) * Church of the Divino Espírito Santo ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Maia/Igreja do Divino Espírito Santo) * Church of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos ( pt, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Aflição/Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos) * Church of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Calhetas/Igreja Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem) * Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ( pt, Igreja Paroquial da Conceição/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição) * Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores ( pt, Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Dores) * Church of Nossa Senhora da Estrela ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Ribeira Grande/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Estrela) * Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Porto Formoso/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Graça) * Church of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres ( pt, Igreja Paroquial Pico da Pedra/Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres) * Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Lomba da Maia/Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário) * Church of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Santa Bárbara/Igreja de Santa Bárbara/Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Vitórias) * Church of Santíssimo Salvador do Mundo ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Ribeirinha/Igreja do Santíssimo Salvador do Mundo) * Church of Santos Reis Magos ( pt, Igreja Paroquial Fenais da Ajuda/Igreja dos Santos Reis Magos) * Church of São Brás ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de São Brás/Igreja de São Brás) * Church of São Pedro ( pt, Igreja de Lomba de São Pedro/Igreja de São Pedro) * Church of São Pedro ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Ribeira Seca/Igreja de São Pedro) * Church of Senhor Bom Jesus ( pt, Igreja Paroquial de Rabo de Peixe/Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus) * Convent of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe ( pt, Convento da Ordem de São Francisco/Convento de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe) * Convent of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda ( pt, Convento de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda) * Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Conceição das Vinhas ( pt, Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Conceição das Vinhas) * Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Salvação ( pt, Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Salvação) * Hermitage of Nossa Senhora das Dores ( pt, Ermida de Nossa Senhora das Dores) * Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Rosário ( pt, Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Rosário) * Hermitage of Nossa Senhora de Fátima ( pt, Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Rosário / Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Fátima) * Hermitage of Santa Luzia ( pt, Ermida de Santa Luzia) * Hermitage of Santo André ( pt, Ermida de Santo André) * Hermitage of Bom Successo ( pt, Ermida do Bom Sucesso/Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso) * Monastery of Nossa Senhora das Mercês ( pt, Mosteiro de Nossa Senhora das Mercês) * Passos da Via Sacra da Ribeira Grande


References


Notes


Sources

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External links


Photos from Ribeira Grande
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel Municipalities of the Azores Populated places established in the 1500s Municipalities of São Miguel Island