Vila Nova is a civil parish in the municipality of
Praia da Vitória
Praia da Vitória (; translating as "Beach of Victory") is a municipality in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. With a population of 21,035 (in 2011), the second largest administrative authority on the island of Terceira, it covers an are ...
on the island of
Terceira
Terceira () is a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago, about a third of the way across the North Atlantic Ocean at a similar latitude to Portugal's capital Lisbon, with the island group forming an insular part of Portugal. It is one of the ...
in the
Portuguese Azores
The Azores ( , , ; , ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atl ...
. The population in 2011 was 1,678, in an area of 8.14 km².
Eurostat
It contains the localities Alminhas, Canada da Bezerra, Canada da Estaca, Canada do Boqueiro, Faias, Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, Ribeira de Agualva and Vila Nova.
History
In its early settlement, the area of Vila Nova was known for its abundance of water; in 1891 there were 14 water fountains supplying potable water to the community. Although primarily a subsistence agriculture community, dominated by the harvesting of cereal crops, the area was also a refuge and settlement for many noble families.
Geography
The area is characterized by rocky coastal zone, that includes the bay and beach of Praia das Escaleiras, and a more elevated area that includes prime agricultural lands in Alminhas, Canada do Boqueiro and Canada da Bezerra.
Ecoregions/Protected areas
* Praia das Escaleiras
* Calvário
Architecture
Civic
* Chafariz da Canada da Bezerra
* Chafariz do Pico da Rocha
* Watermill of Agualva
The Watermill of Agualva () is a watermill located in the civil parish of Vila Nova, in the municipality of Praia da Vitoria, island of Terceira, in the Portuguese Azores. It is part of the inventory of historical and religious buildings registe ...
()
Religious
* Igreja Paroquial do Divino Espírito Santo
* Império do Divino Espírito Santo
* Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vila Nova (Praia da Vitoria)
Freguesias of Praia da Vitória