Conceição

Conceição is a parish in the district of Horta in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 1,157, its density is 422.3/km² and the area is 2.74 km². It is the second smallest parish in Horta.

Nearest places

• Horta, south

Geography

• Altitude:
  • Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
  • Centre: -
  • Highest: southern parts

Conceição is located north of the city of Horta and is the northernmost suburb, the parish is topographically divided into two parts, the upper part is mainly rural and the southern part is an urban area which is connected with Horta. A beach named Praia da Conceição is founded in the east and a picnic at Parque da Alagoa and a swimming pool.

History

The to settle this area was the Flemish nobleman Joss van Aard (transliterated into portuguese as José da Terra, or literally, Joseph of the Earth/Land), where he made his home, cultivated a small parcel, and planted fruit trees on the edge of Ribeira dos Flamengos. Along his holdings was a large promontory that overlooked the Bay of Horta, and extended into the Canal that the Flemish colonists referred to as The Needle (Spelk Maker in Flemish), later to be widely know in the Portuguese as Espalamaca. It is believed that Joss van Aard was the founder of the primitive chapel to Nossa Senhora da Conceição.^[1]

In 1498, Joss de Huerter (the second Captain-donatário of Faial), established in the northern part of Horta (Conceição), the administrative center of the village. The building, located on Rua do Bom Jesus nº.16, housed the administrative functions and local jail, referred to as the Casa da Câmara e Cadeia. By November 5, 1632, Fernão Gomes Massam (then Corregador dos Açores) reported that the building was considered a incapable of continuing to handle this function. Its roles were transfered. By 1926, only the walls remained of the building which was destroyed by the August 31 earthquake.

Fortifications were constructed in the lower part of the parish including Forte da Alagoa and Forte do Bom Jesus in the 17th century, the defensive systems of Horta.

Together with the Foz da Ribeira, Praia da Alagoa (or Praia da Conceição = Conceição Beach), the municipal pools and Parque Vitorino Nemésio. The Espalamaca (spalk maker which is Flemish or Dutch for "needle"). Other attractions includes the Typical Windmills of Faial and a natural view of from the Pilar de N. Sra. da Conceição, completed in 1973 offers a panoramic view of the city day and night. The northern view offers the entire parish of Praia do Almoxarife along with the sea and its brach. The eastern view offers Mount Pico and the Faial Channel.

On August 31, 1926, the parish suffered an enormous earthquake. A large portion of its inhabitants were displaced and homeless.

Faialense Mill

The windmill of Faial, situated near Espalamaca presents Flemish influences. This mill

Other

Conceição has representatives in the parish including Sociedad Filarmónica Artista Faialense (Faialense Artistic Philharmonic Society) and Faial Sport Clube. Conceição also has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasia, churches, a nearby beach, a post office and a fewsquares (praças)

Economy

The main industry on the island are tourism and businesses, agriculture dominates the upper part, forestry and fishing.

Notes

1. ^ LIMA, Marcelino de; Anais do Municipio da Horta, 3rd Ed. 1981

v • d • e Parishes of Horta municipality Angústias | Capelo | Castelo Branco | Cedros | Conceição | Feteira | Flamengos | Matriz | Pedro Miguel | Praia do Almoxarife | Praia do Norte | Ribeirinha | Salão