São Mateus (Madalena)

São Mateus
Civil Parish
The old fishing port of São Mateus, with view to São Caetano, on the island of Pico
Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia de São Mateus
Name origin: Portuguese for Saint Matthew
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Island Pico
Municipality Madalena
Localities Areiro, Badgaço, Canada Nova, Gingeira, Grotas, Grotas de Cima, Mata, Paço, Ponta da Calheta, Porto Novo, Porto de São Mateus, Pontinha, Relvas, Rua dos Caldeirões
Rivers Ribeira da Calheta, Ribeira das Grotas, Ribeira dos Bodes
Center São Mateus
 - elevation 75 m (246 ft)
 - coordinates 38°26′1″N 28°27′18″W / 38.43361°N 28.45500°W / 38.43361; -28.45500Coordinates: 38°26′1″N 28°27′18″W / 38.43361°N 28.45500°W / 38.43361; -28.45500
Highest point Mount Pico
 - elevation 2,351 m (7,713 ft)
 - coordinates 38°28′19″N 28°51′50″W / 38.47194°N 28.86389°W / 38.47194; -28.86389
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 17.37 km2 (7 sq mi)
 - urban .64 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population 772 (2011)
Density 44/km2 (114/sq mi)
LAU Junta Freguesia
 - location Estrada Regional
 - coordinates 38°26′3″N 28°27′29″W / 38.43417°N 28.45806°W / 38.43417; -28.45806
President Junta Paulo Luis Goulart Machado (PS)
Timezone Azores (UTC-1)
 - summer (DST) Azores (UTC0)
Postal Zone 9950-521
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 292 XX XX XX
Demonym São-mateusense
Patron Saint São Mateus
Wikimedia Commons: São Mateus (Madalena do Pico)

São Mateus 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

A bust of Francisco Ferreira Goulart, resident and patron of the small parish

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 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Lajes, and whose name was derived from a medicinal plant discovered in the region.[3]

Geography

The lighthouse of Ponta de São Mateus and view of Mount Pico

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 Arieiro in the southwest corner and the interior hamlet of Ginjeira, are the predominant rural agglomerations.

Architecture

The front facade of the iconic Church of São Mateus

References

Notes
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. Eurostat
  3. 1 2 Manuel Alexandre Madruga (1957), p.144
Sources
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