Matriz (Horta)

Coordinates: 38°32′19″N 28°37′51″W / 38.53861°N 28.63083°W / 38.53861; -28.63083

Matriz
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
Matriz, as seen from Horta Bay, showing the old quarter and many of the historical buildings, as well Monte Carneiro
Flag Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia de Matriz
Name origin: matriz, Portuguese for origin
Country	Portugal
Autonomous Region	Azores
Group	Central
Island	Faial
Municipality	Horta
Localities	Matriz, Dutras
Center	Matriz
- elevation	76 m (249 ft)
- coordinates	38°32′19″N 28°37′51″W / 38.53861°N 28.63083°W / 38.53861; -28.63083
Highest point	Monte Carneiro
- location	Dutras, Matriz, Horta
- elevation	267.23 m (877 ft)
- coordinates	32°15′16″N 28°38′40″W / 32.25444°N 28.64444°W / 32.25444; -28.64444
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	2.25 km (1 mi), Northwest-Southeast
Width	1.10 km (1 mi), Southwest-Northeast
Area	1.71 km2 (1 sq mi)
Population	2,523 (2001)
Density	1,557.6 / km2 (4,034 / sq mi)
LAU	Freguesia/Junta Freguesia
- location	Largo Duque D'Ávila e Bolama, Nº16, Matriz, Horta
- elevation	21 m (69 ft)
- coordinates	38°32′14″N 28°37′36″W / 38.53722°N 28.62667°W / 38.53722; -28.62667
President Junta	Laurénio Manuel Azevedo Tavares
President Assembleia	Ana Maria Cunha Costa Reis Pacheco de Silva
Timezone	Azores (UTC-1)
- summer (DST)	Azores (UTC0)
ISO 3166-2 code	PT-
Postal Zone	9900-114 Matriz
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Demonym	Faialense; Hortense
Patron Saint	Santissimo Salvador
Parish Address	Largo Duque D'Ávila e Bolama, Nº16 9900-114 Matriz
Location of the civil parish of Matriz within the municipality of Horta
Wikimedia Commons: Matriz (Horta)
Website: http://freguesiamatriz.pt/

Matriz is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta, in the Portuguese Azores, which is part of the urbanized core of the city of Horta. In 2001, its population was 2523, in an area approximately 1.62 km² (a density of 1,557.4/km²); it is the smallest parish, densest and second-most populous parish on the island.

History

It was the second Captain-major of Faial, Joss d'Utra, son of the Flemish pioneer Josse van Huerter, that originally settled and developed the area of Matriz. The religious parish, Matriz do Santissimo Salvador, was created from successive growth, and the area become integrated into the larger village of Horta, and municipal seat, in 1498 by the royal decree of King Manuel I of Portugal.

The primitive Church Matriz de São Salvador was completed and inaugurated on June 28, 1514; it compliments the Flemish church of the same name in Bruges and the Sé of Angra do Heroísmo. It was successively sacked in 1589, then 1597, by English privateers.

In 1643, Diogo das Chagas identified that the area of the Matriz had about 1,985 inhabitants in 449 homes. It was also a centre of the faith community during the period of exploration; the home to several churches and religious sanctuaries, that include: the Jesuit Church and Convent, the Church of Misericórdia (Mercy), the Convent of São João, the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Glória, the Convento de Santo António, the Império dos Nobres (in homage to the 1672 volcanic eruption) and the old Clock Tower (former tower of another destroyed church).

Geography

Matriz is buttressed between its urban neighbors Angústias (along its southern border), Conceição (along its northern), and the landlocked parish of Flamengos (towards the west)): it fronts Horta Bay, and the island of Pico towards the east. Generally, the parish is a gently sloping tract of land that slopes towards the interior (Flamengos), that is highly urbanized and which constitutes the core the city of Horta.

Most commercial, administrative and residential uses are concentrated in this parish, including the Regional Assembly, many of the historical churches, convents and social services, antique farmers market, post office, archive and other public buildings. Landmarks includes the Horta Museum, Sociedade Recreativa Amor da Pátria, Império dos Nobres (Empire of Nobles), Horta's clock tower, the former Walter Bensaúde Hospital (future expansion of the Department of Oceanography and Ichthyology of the University of the Azores, a panoramic view at Monte Carneiro and the Horta Archive and the Public Library (the old Bensaúde House, Port.: Casa Bensaúde).

Matriz also has a school, a lyceum, churches (including one named Igreja Matriz do SS.º Salvador da Horta), a nearby beach, and a few squares (praças).

References

Notes

Sources

• Amorim, Maria Norberta (2008). "A Matriz da Horta em 1853: População e Residençia [The village of Matriz, Horta Town in 1873. Population and urban distribution]". Horta (Azores), Portugal: Boletim do Núcleo Cultural da Horta. pp. 201–226. http://www.nch.pt/biblioteca-virtual/bol-nch17/boletim17-pags201.pdf.