| Angústias | ||
| Freguesia das Angústias | ||
| Civil Parish | ||
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| Country | Portugal | |
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| State | Azores | |
| Region | Faial | |
| District | Horta | |
| Civil Parish | Caminho do Meio, Courelas, Pasteleiro, Port Pim | |
| Center | Nossa Senhora das Angústias | |
| - coordinates | 38°31′41″N 28°37′38″W / 38.52806°N 28.62722°W | |
| Highest point | Monte Carneiro | |
| - elevation | 927 m (3,041 ft) | |
| Lowest point | Sea Level | |
| - location | Porto Pim | |
| Area | 4.12 km2 (2 sq mi) | |
| Population | 3,025 (2003) | |
| Density | 734.2 /km2 (1,902 /sq mi) | |
| Civil Parish | 1684 | |
| Mayor | José Rodrigues da Costa | |
| Horta HRT | 9900-019 | |
| Website: [1] | ||
Angústias is one of the three civil parishes that form the city of Horta. This is an economically active, densely-populated area (734.2/km²) with the second-smallest area (4.12 km²), but the largest population in the municipality of Horta. Due to its commercial nature, the parish is one of the primary industrial zones of the island, and one of the destinations of the island's tourism.
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History
The first recorded document about this area, referring to the Vila de Orta, was in 1532. Since 1468, the island and parish had been under the administration of Josse van Huerter, a Flemish leader during the colonization of the island of Faial. The founding of the village of Orta (later Horta), allowed rapid growth of the religious parish of Nossa Senhora das Angústias. In 1498, Horta was elevated to the status of Vila, later city in 1833.
Porto Pim, a sheltered bay between Monte Escuro and Monte da Guia, was a natural refuge for the first colonists, easy for loading and unloading cargo and supplies. In the area of Pasteleiro, the first commercial businesses associated with the pastel or woad industry were first started by van Hurtere. It was also in this area, at the chapel of Santa Cruz, that van Hurtere and his wife, D. Beatriz de Macedo, were laid to rest. In her testament, D. Beatriz (who died in 1531) made a provision for the reconstruction of a Church of Santa Cruz on the same site (which had since been destroyed).
In 1567, the Fort of Santa Cruz was built for the defense of the island. Unfortunately, the fortifications, convents and churches were sacked by English privateers in 1589 and 1597, and subsequently burned to the ground. By the beginning of the 17th century, several new military/defensive structures were built, including the military doors of Porto Pim, the Fort of São Sebastião, the Fort of Greta, and the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Guia.
A Chapel of Santa Bárbara was later constructed in Angústias by the Flemish nobleman Pero Pasteleiro and his wife Madelana da Rosa. It too was destroyed by an earthquake in 1850, but reconstructed later at the cost of several workers.
The Convent of São Francisco was re-constructed by 1696 on higher ground and farther away from the coast (due to the history of attacks). The primitive convent was originally built on a site called Pedras dos Frades (along the coastal avenue where is located a compass rose). It was founded by friar Pedro da Atouguia, and its construction concluded in 1522. It was sacked and set ablaze in 1597 by English privateers. The second convent and church was constructed in the same place by 1609, but destroyed by the ocean during a storm. By November 12, 1700 it was reconsecrated as the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Its principal benefactor, Simão Liuz Carolo, was moved from Angra to a mausoleum in the main chapel on the 4th of November, 1700. With the end of the religious orders in 1835, the convent was donated to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, which installed its hospital and Asilo de Mendicidade. On May 4, 1899, a violent fire completely destroyed the convent, the Church survived.
The parish of Nossa Senhora das Angústias was formed on November 28, 1684. D. Frei Lourenço, Bishop of Angra, on August 30, 1675, finally initiated the construction of a church in the name of Santa Cruz. In 1688, after a visit of Bishop D. Clemente Vieria, the parish receives 572$000 reis for the construction. It would eventually be constructed in 1800 and receive the name Church of Nossa Senhora das Angústias: its bell-towers finished by 1861.
Between 1839 and 1969, due to the developments in the telegraph industries, Horta (and Angústias in particular) was the central node in the trans-Atlantic submarine cable network. The basing of English, American and German telegraph companies in Angústias resulted in urban and social growth. Many of the buildings constructed during this period have become integral to the landscape of the parish, including the Hotel Faial, the homes of the Dabney family, the Colonia Alemã and several of the original buildings constructed to house the telegraph equipment.
By October 20, 1876 the commercial port was constructed; it became an important trans-Atlantic point, as an Allied port during both World Wars, a stopover for hydroplanes crossing the Atlantic and way-point for Dutch Atlantic tugboats. In the early years, the dock came to supplement, then supplant, the harbor of Porto Pim for whaling vessels involved in the North Atlantic whale hunt. A new marina was eventually inaugurated (June 3, 1986) to handle the annual growth in yachts and pleasure craft to the region.
Geography
The parish includes the region extending from the civil parish of Feteiras along the southern coast of Faial, to the port area of the city of Horta. The area includes the bay of Port Pim, Monte da Guia and Monte Escuro, and the interior Monte Carneiro. It is fronted on the north by the civil parish of Matriz. This is a hilly area that includes several escoria volcano cones (the aforementioned Monte da Guia, Monte Escuro and Monte Carneiro are all extinct cones), as well as rugged coastal areas and public sand beaches (the beach at Porto Pim).
The area includes several pasturelands, but is generally urbanized with a industrial area located to the west along an ancillary branch of the Regional E.R.1-1ª motorway. Many of the important civic, cultural or regional buildings are located in Angústias, including the islands only secondary school (EBS Escola Secundária Manuel Arriaga), the only hospital (Hospital da Horta), headquarters of the police, the commercial marina, dock and container terminal, principal installations of the Santa Casa da Misericordia (the benevolent society that homes the elderly) and the supermarket (Modelo).
Culture & Tourism
Being one of the nuclei of the city of Horta, Angústias is the home of many buildings important to the history of the region. Some of these have been renovated and reused for other purposes (for example the Fort of Santa Cruz), while others have become important as tourist attractions (for example Peter's Cafe) or continued to be active in the community (such as the Church of Nossa Senhora das Angústias).
Civil & Civic Architecture
- Prince Albert of Monaco Meteorological Observatory
- Clube Naval da Horta
- Casa dos Arriagas
- Peter Café Sport (and Scrimshaw Museum located onsite)
- Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional da Horta (Public Library and Regional Archive)
- Colónia Alemã
- The Cedars
Military Fortifications
- Fort of Santa Cruz
- Bunker de Artilharia de Costa (World War II Artillery Bunker)
Religious Sanctuaries
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia
- Império das Angústias
- Church of Nossa Senhora das Angústias (Our Lady of Anguish)
- Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary)
Natural Environments & Protected Zones
- Monte Carneiro
- Monte Escuro
- Protected Zone of Monte da Guia
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