Vila do Porto is the only municipality on the island of Santa Maria made up of five parishes: Almagreira, Santa Bárbara, Santo Espírito, São Pedro and Vila do Porto. This was the first town to receive a charter in 1470, making it the first municipality in the Azores.
In a historical context, we cannot forget Christopher Columbus’ passage through Santa Maria and Vila do Porto on his way back from America in 1493. It is also worth mentioning the important construction of the international airport in 1944 which assumed a fundamental role in the air connections across the Atlantic and is currently the centre of air traffic in the North Atlantic.
Of the architectural heritage present in this municipality, we highlight the Nossa Senhora da Assunção Mother Church, dating from the 15th century; the Misericórdia Church; the Santo António Convent; the Ermida dos Anjos Chapel, dating from the 16th century, where Christopher Columbus’ crew attended mass, thus fulfilling a promise. The former Convent of São Francisco, which today houses the Town Hall of Vila do Porto, is a 17th century building that still has the arabesque cloister and a garden inside. São Brás Fort is an example of military architecture present in Vila do Porto, which was built at the end of Philippine rule to protect the population.
Regarding culture and tradition, this municipality is strongly marked by the Holy Spirit Festivities, which date back to the first settlers who inhabited the island of Santa Maria. On August 15, the day of the Assumption of Our Lady, the festival in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption, patron saint of Vila do Porto, is celebrated. Another festival that plays an important role in this municipality and island is the Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres that gathers all the locals around this important religious cult.
Last modified: 6 de January, 2022
