São Mateus (Madalena) Explained

Type:parish
São Mateus
Region:Azores
Island:Pico
Municipality:Madalena
Coordinates:38.4336°N -28.455°W
Area Total Km2:17.37
Elevation M:75
Population As Of:2011
Population Total:772
Postal Code:9950-521
Area Code:292
Patron:São Mateus

pt|'''São Mateus'''|italic=no|[[Matthew the Apostle|Saint Matthew]] is a civil parish along the southwestern coast of the municipality of Madalena on the island Portuguese island of Pico, in the archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 772,[1] in an area of 17.37 km².[2]

History

It is known, from oral investigations, that one of the first civil parishes created on the island of Pico was dedicated to the apostle Mathew, and which extended along the southern coast in an area considerably larger than today's limits.[3] It was, then, part of the locality of Arruda, its centre 12km (07miles) from Lajes, and whose name was derived from a medicinal plant discovered in the region.[3]

Geography

Connected to the two principal centers (Madalena on the west coast and Lajes on the south coast) by the Regional E.R.1-1ª roadway, the parish is wedged between the parishes of São Caetano and Candelária. The pie-shaped parish extends from the southern coast to the interior, sloping from rugged cliffs to the mountainous summit of Ponta do Pico. While farmlands and settlements occupy most of the areas along the roadways, the dense forest occupies the majority of its territory.

In addition to the parish center of São Mateus (location of the primary school, commercial businesses and civil government), located near the São Caetano border, the coastal village of Areeiro in the southwest corner and the interior hamlet of Ginjeira, are the predominant rural agglomerations. Other localities are Badgaço, Canada Nova, Grotas, Grotas de Cima, Mata, Paço, Ponta da Calheta, Porto Novo, Porto de São Mateus, Pontinha, Relvas and Rua dos Caldeirões.

Architecture

References

Notes
  • Sources
  • Notes and References

    1. http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xlang=en&xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0005889&contexto=pi&selTab=tab0 Instituto Nacional de Estatística
    2. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/nuts_nomenclature/documents/PT-LAU.xls Eurostat
    3. Manuel Alexandre Madruga (1957), p.144