The island of São Jorge, in addition to its very rich natural heritage, also holds a historical and cultural value that is represented in its built heritage, be it civil, religious, or military.
The civil heritage of this island has received influences from various regions of Portugal and abroad, from the time of settlement, due to the places of origin from which its first settlers came. The island of São Jorge is therefore home to some Spanish and Flemish influences brought in by families from those regions. However, the Jorgenian heritage also depends on the various adaptations that have had to be made over time due to some natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, thus giving the island a unique heritage.
In this context, an isolated tower of the old church of the parish of Urzelina stands out, which was buried by lava resulting from the violent volcanic eruption of 1808, its tower remaining intact as a vestige of the original construction.
Regarding the religious patrimony in this island, it fits within the typical architectural lines of the Azores, which highlight the basalt, with special emphasis on the Main Church of São Jorge, in Velas and the Church of Santa Bárbara, in the parish of Manadas, which, being classified as a National Monument, is considered a great example of the baroque of the 18th century in the island, whose interior is decorated in detail with gilded woodwork, tile panels and paintings. The church of São Francisco, in Velas is what remains of the old Franciscan Convent on the island. Throughout the island there are some buildings with a basalt stonework, such as the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Livramento, located on the hill overlooking the village of Velas and the Chapel of de São José, in the parish of Urzelina. In this island, as in Terceira Island, there are also empires (small chapels destined to the exposition of the elements of the cult to the Holy Spirit), distributed all over the island.
As far as military architecture is concerned, this is here well represented by the old fortresses located in the Velas, being them the Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Conceição dated from the 16th century and which today integrates the municipal auditorium of the Velas; and the Santa Cruz Fort, the oldest construction of the island that still persists, destined to defend the village against attacks from corsairs and pirates, having been used, in the 19th century, for the melting of sperm whale fat. Currently it is a structure belonging to the naval club of Velas.
In this island, it is important to mention the presence of other structures that also have some patrimonial value, namely, the lighthouse of Ponta dos Rosais, which operated since the 50’s of last century, but due to the earthquake of 1980, it was abandoned, being in a degraded state, but it is a place that attracts the attention of the most adventurous, who do not stop visiting it. The “Sea Gate” is another element of great patrimonial and historical value of the island of São Jorge, located in the port of Velas, it dates to the 16th century, when a defensive wall was built in this town, leaving today its door with stonework details.
Last modified: 16 de February, 2022
