Publication Date
2009
Categories
At an unknown date after 1450, the 1st captain and leader of the settlement of Terceira, the Flemish noble Jácome de Bruges, is thought to have settled near what is today the city of Praia da Vitória. The first settlement of the area would spring up in what was named Paúl de Beljardim, located near the middle of the bay, between what is the city today and the Cape of Praia. According to the historian Gaspar Frutuoso, Praia was one of the two main centres of settlement in Terceira, at a time when the number of residents on the island was still minimal. After the island of Jesus Christ was divided into two captaincies - Angra and Praia (1474) - the small settlement was moved to an area that was more accessible by sea and more easily defended. Frutuoso observes that the decisive factors leading to this relocation were the insecurity brought on by Castilian attacks and the seige during the war of 1474-1479. For military and maritime reasons, therefore, the settlement of Praia unfolded in the new location, as per the letter of Dona Beatriz to the 1st captain of Praia, Álvaro Martins Homem. According to the transcription of Frei Diogo das Chagas, the above-mentioned 1st captain and local representatives reached an agreement, dated September 1482, that designated the land of Sancha Rodrigues (wife of Jácome de Bruges) for the settlement, thereby establishing the second municipality of the island of Terceira. Indeed, Praia was among the first municipalities to emerge in the Azores, where the seat of each captaincy corresponded to a municipal seat. Although no documentation is known, the municipality of Praia, which dates from the time of the donator system, is among the oldest of the islands.
In 1488 Praia was officially named a town, while the development of the urban area, with its respective wall and various access gates, was completed circa 1513. About 1717, Father Cordeiro described the wall, with its 4 strongholds and 4 gates, the gate of the port, the gate of the town centre, the gate of Our Lady of Remedies and the gate of Our Lady of the Wounds. According to the same source, the port and wharf had been completed two-hundred years before, at which time Frutuoso referred to the quality of these structures and to their dynamic commercial and maritime activity, along with that of the respective customs house.
Along with these, the activity of other institutions also attested to the prosperous period of development that Praia experienced during the late 15th century and throughout the 16th century. These included the convent of Our Lady of the Light, the oldest convent known to have existed in the Azores (1480s); the convent of San Francisco (1490s); the Holy Spirit Hospital, which was already in existence in 1499 and was designated the headquarters of the brotherhood of Mercy by royal decree dated 1521; and the Mother Church dedicated to the Holy Cross and consecrated in 1517, which is a 16th century Manueline style building with a late Gothic main doorway made of imported stone. Contiguous to this church were the convent of Jesus (1532-1536), the Wounds retreat house, the Lazarus hospital, 13 chapels, 6 water fountains and numerous private wells, which were counted at the end of the 1500s (Frutuoso). In addition, this golden period of abundance and wealth was also evident in the hefty revenues which were already being collected in 1533-1537, as a result of the levees and taxes associated to the milling infrastructures of the captaincy. As a result, many owners stored their production in grain lofts and stores right in town, for retail merchants to transport and ship to other places and destinations.
Born of the development described above, the original town centre was comprised of various public buildings and structures right near the coastline, which was continuously subjected to inclement weather, as occurred especially in 1676. These structures included the above-mentioned protective wall, which was extended along the bay according to the defence plan of 1567, and the convents of San Francisco, the Light and the Wounds. Despite the many years of resources and efforts spent, the wall fell prey to the uncontrollable forces of the sea, being reduced today to the fort of Santa Catarina on the Cape of Praia, while the other structures were transferred to safer ground in the 17th century and are today reduced to mere vestiges. As a result, reconstituting the original town layout is quite difficult.
Today, Praia is laid out in a fan-like manner, with numerous streets leading toward the ocean. This disposition, according to José Manuel Fernandes, is composed of three basic areas: the central axis or original town centre, with a primitive street layout that crosses the central Municipal Square and leads to the Saint John of God Square, while another goes from the central churchyard to the convent of San Francisco (2nd convent); a second configuration, possibly dating from the original area where the city expanded, is comprised of streets that are more narrow and closer together, including Mercy Street and Customs House Street, for example, which are naturally connected to the City Hall and the Mother Church; and a third area, located west of the City Hall and the Mother Church has a network-like configuration of larger blocks resulting from the growth of Praia after the 17th and 18th centuries, with convents and monasteries and Rua Nova and Rua de Jesus.
Along with the ocean, other natural phenomena have also contributed to the various changes in the physical and human makeup of Praia. The earthquakes provoked by the shifts in the graben of Lajes, as happened in 1614 and 1841, nearly resulted in the destruction of the town and the reduction in the population. Known as the drops or falls of Praia and the surrounding villages, this seismic activity made private homes, public building and fortifications collapse partially or totally. The City Hall, which is the symbol of the city, was built after the 1614 earthquake farther from the coastline, as were the convents of San Francisco, of Jesus and of the Light; the relocation of the latter building was also due to flooding which occurred in 1676. The customs house was relocated in 1634, according to a report from 1844, which also mentions repairs to the Mother Church, the Mercy hospital, the city hall, the prison, the aqueducts and the cemetery. Meanwhile, the hospital of the Light, the hospital of Lazarus, the chapel of Remedy, the chapel of Saint Amaro, the forts and the wharf remained in ruins. Overcoming these catastrophes meant an expensive, painful, difficult and slow effort, which was led by the General Administrator José Silvestre Ribeiro, a key figure of Praia who was honoured by the municipality with a monument in 1879. Moreover, the fear brought on by the seismic activity of 1614 and 1841 prompted many residents of Praia to move to other areas. Only the zeal of local authorities, the donations and other limitations managed to contain and perhaps invert this tendency.
In terms of demographics, therefore, the population of Praia managed to renew itself. At the end of the 16th century, the captaincy based in Praia until 1766 numbered 700 residents (Furtuoso), while at the beginning of the 17th century, 500 of the 1200 residents lived inside the city walls. (Father Cordeiro). This allowed Praia to take an active role in the history of the Azores and of Portugal. Born of military organization dating from 1567, the militias of Praia always took part in the political and military activity of Terceira and Portugal, at home and abroad. During the struggle against Spanish rule that occurred in Terceira in 1583, Praia gave asylum to Dom António, the Pryor of Crato, although the acclamation may have been less spontaneous than many have been led to believe. It was also Praia's well-organized militias, led by Ciprião de Figueiredo, which guaranteed the loyalty of the city hall, the captains and the local elite. As Spain overcame Terceira, the Marquis of Santa Cruz simulated attacks on Praia in order to lead the enemy away from the bay where the rival forces were disembarking. After Portugal gained self rule, Praia took centre stage once again, under the leadership of Francisco Ornelas da Câmara, who initiated his campaign to circle the fort of Saint Phillip (later named the fort of Saint John the Baptist), the Spanish stronghold in Angra, and prepared the acclamation of King João IV on 24 March 1641. Known today as "Praia of Victory" due to the battle of 11 August 1829, Praia was officially elevated to the status of city by the Regional Assembly on 10 June 1981.
Bibliography:
DRUMMOND, Francisco Ferreira - Apontamentos topográficos, políticos, civis e eclesiásticos para a história das nove ilhas dos Açores servindo de suplemento aos "Anais da Ilha Terceira". Angra do Heroísmo: Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira, 1990; FERNANDES, José Manuel - "Da Praia às Lajes: reflexão sobre as estruturas urbanas do concelho". In Praia da Vitória, Terceira: inventário do património imóvel dos Açores. Coord. de A. Paulus Bruno. S.l.: Direcção Regional da Cultura / Instituto Açoriano de Cultura / Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, 2004, pp. 31-40; FRUTUOSO, Gaspar - Livro sexto das saudades da terra. 2ª ed. Ponta Delgada: Instituto Cultural de Ponta Delgada, 1978; GREGÓRIO, Rute Dias - Rendimentos da capitania da Praia, ilha Terceira, 1533-1537. Lisboa: Faculdade de Ciências Sociais Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2004. Separata de Anais de História de Além-Mar, vol. V, 2004, pp. 161-183; GREGÓRIO, Rute Dias - Terra e fortuna: os primórdios da humanização da ilha Terceira (1450?-1550). Ponta Delgada: Centro de História de Além-Mar, 2007; LEITE, José Guilherme Reis - "Breve esboço sobre a história da Praia". In Praia da Vitória, Terceira: inventário do património imóvel dos Açores. Coord. de A. Paulus Bruno. S.l.: Direcção Regional da Cultura / Instituto Açoriano de Cultura / Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, 2004, pp. 11-30; MEMORIAL da Praia da Vitória. Pref., dir. e coord. de Eduardo Ferraz da Rosa. Edição refundida e aumentada de "Memorial de muito notável vila da Praia da Vitória", organização de Vitorino Nemésio, 1929. Praia da Vitória: Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, 2002.
Translated by: Rosa Simas
In 1488 Praia was officially named a town, while the development of the urban area, with its respective wall and various access gates, was completed circa 1513. About 1717, Father Cordeiro described the wall, with its 4 strongholds and 4 gates, the gate of the port, the gate of the town centre, the gate of Our Lady of Remedies and the gate of Our Lady of the Wounds. According to the same source, the port and wharf had been completed two-hundred years before, at which time Frutuoso referred to the quality of these structures and to their dynamic commercial and maritime activity, along with that of the respective customs house.
Along with these, the activity of other institutions also attested to the prosperous period of development that Praia experienced during the late 15th century and throughout the 16th century. These included the convent of Our Lady of the Light, the oldest convent known to have existed in the Azores (1480s); the convent of San Francisco (1490s); the Holy Spirit Hospital, which was already in existence in 1499 and was designated the headquarters of the brotherhood of Mercy by royal decree dated 1521; and the Mother Church dedicated to the Holy Cross and consecrated in 1517, which is a 16th century Manueline style building with a late Gothic main doorway made of imported stone. Contiguous to this church were the convent of Jesus (1532-1536), the Wounds retreat house, the Lazarus hospital, 13 chapels, 6 water fountains and numerous private wells, which were counted at the end of the 1500s (Frutuoso). In addition, this golden period of abundance and wealth was also evident in the hefty revenues which were already being collected in 1533-1537, as a result of the levees and taxes associated to the milling infrastructures of the captaincy. As a result, many owners stored their production in grain lofts and stores right in town, for retail merchants to transport and ship to other places and destinations.
Born of the development described above, the original town centre was comprised of various public buildings and structures right near the coastline, which was continuously subjected to inclement weather, as occurred especially in 1676. These structures included the above-mentioned protective wall, which was extended along the bay according to the defence plan of 1567, and the convents of San Francisco, the Light and the Wounds. Despite the many years of resources and efforts spent, the wall fell prey to the uncontrollable forces of the sea, being reduced today to the fort of Santa Catarina on the Cape of Praia, while the other structures were transferred to safer ground in the 17th century and are today reduced to mere vestiges. As a result, reconstituting the original town layout is quite difficult.
Today, Praia is laid out in a fan-like manner, with numerous streets leading toward the ocean. This disposition, according to José Manuel Fernandes, is composed of three basic areas: the central axis or original town centre, with a primitive street layout that crosses the central Municipal Square and leads to the Saint John of God Square, while another goes from the central churchyard to the convent of San Francisco (2nd convent); a second configuration, possibly dating from the original area where the city expanded, is comprised of streets that are more narrow and closer together, including Mercy Street and Customs House Street, for example, which are naturally connected to the City Hall and the Mother Church; and a third area, located west of the City Hall and the Mother Church has a network-like configuration of larger blocks resulting from the growth of Praia after the 17th and 18th centuries, with convents and monasteries and Rua Nova and Rua de Jesus.
Along with the ocean, other natural phenomena have also contributed to the various changes in the physical and human makeup of Praia. The earthquakes provoked by the shifts in the graben of Lajes, as happened in 1614 and 1841, nearly resulted in the destruction of the town and the reduction in the population. Known as the drops or falls of Praia and the surrounding villages, this seismic activity made private homes, public building and fortifications collapse partially or totally. The City Hall, which is the symbol of the city, was built after the 1614 earthquake farther from the coastline, as were the convents of San Francisco, of Jesus and of the Light; the relocation of the latter building was also due to flooding which occurred in 1676. The customs house was relocated in 1634, according to a report from 1844, which also mentions repairs to the Mother Church, the Mercy hospital, the city hall, the prison, the aqueducts and the cemetery. Meanwhile, the hospital of the Light, the hospital of Lazarus, the chapel of Remedy, the chapel of Saint Amaro, the forts and the wharf remained in ruins. Overcoming these catastrophes meant an expensive, painful, difficult and slow effort, which was led by the General Administrator José Silvestre Ribeiro, a key figure of Praia who was honoured by the municipality with a monument in 1879. Moreover, the fear brought on by the seismic activity of 1614 and 1841 prompted many residents of Praia to move to other areas. Only the zeal of local authorities, the donations and other limitations managed to contain and perhaps invert this tendency.
In terms of demographics, therefore, the population of Praia managed to renew itself. At the end of the 16th century, the captaincy based in Praia until 1766 numbered 700 residents (Furtuoso), while at the beginning of the 17th century, 500 of the 1200 residents lived inside the city walls. (Father Cordeiro). This allowed Praia to take an active role in the history of the Azores and of Portugal. Born of military organization dating from 1567, the militias of Praia always took part in the political and military activity of Terceira and Portugal, at home and abroad. During the struggle against Spanish rule that occurred in Terceira in 1583, Praia gave asylum to Dom António, the Pryor of Crato, although the acclamation may have been less spontaneous than many have been led to believe. It was also Praia's well-organized militias, led by Ciprião de Figueiredo, which guaranteed the loyalty of the city hall, the captains and the local elite. As Spain overcame Terceira, the Marquis of Santa Cruz simulated attacks on Praia in order to lead the enemy away from the bay where the rival forces were disembarking. After Portugal gained self rule, Praia took centre stage once again, under the leadership of Francisco Ornelas da Câmara, who initiated his campaign to circle the fort of Saint Phillip (later named the fort of Saint John the Baptist), the Spanish stronghold in Angra, and prepared the acclamation of King João IV on 24 March 1641. Known today as "Praia of Victory" due to the battle of 11 August 1829, Praia was officially elevated to the status of city by the Regional Assembly on 10 June 1981.
Bibliography:
DRUMMOND, Francisco Ferreira - Apontamentos topográficos, políticos, civis e eclesiásticos para a história das nove ilhas dos Açores servindo de suplemento aos "Anais da Ilha Terceira". Angra do Heroísmo: Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira, 1990; FERNANDES, José Manuel - "Da Praia às Lajes: reflexão sobre as estruturas urbanas do concelho". In Praia da Vitória, Terceira: inventário do património imóvel dos Açores. Coord. de A. Paulus Bruno. S.l.: Direcção Regional da Cultura / Instituto Açoriano de Cultura / Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, 2004, pp. 31-40; FRUTUOSO, Gaspar - Livro sexto das saudades da terra. 2ª ed. Ponta Delgada: Instituto Cultural de Ponta Delgada, 1978; GREGÓRIO, Rute Dias - Rendimentos da capitania da Praia, ilha Terceira, 1533-1537. Lisboa: Faculdade de Ciências Sociais Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2004. Separata de Anais de História de Além-Mar, vol. V, 2004, pp. 161-183; GREGÓRIO, Rute Dias - Terra e fortuna: os primórdios da humanização da ilha Terceira (1450?-1550). Ponta Delgada: Centro de História de Além-Mar, 2007; LEITE, José Guilherme Reis - "Breve esboço sobre a história da Praia". In Praia da Vitória, Terceira: inventário do património imóvel dos Açores. Coord. de A. Paulus Bruno. S.l.: Direcção Regional da Cultura / Instituto Açoriano de Cultura / Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, 2004, pp. 11-30; MEMORIAL da Praia da Vitória. Pref., dir. e coord. de Eduardo Ferraz da Rosa. Edição refundida e aumentada de "Memorial de muito notável vila da Praia da Vitória", organização de Vitorino Nemésio, 1929. Praia da Vitória: Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, 2002.
Translated by: Rosa Simas