São Pedro (Ponta Delgada)

São Pedro (Portuguese for Saint Peter) is the easternmost parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores. It is part of the historic downtown area of Ponta Delgada (covering an area of 2.81 km²) that includes a 2001 population of 7,177 habitants (its density is 2,554.1/km²). The parish was first incorporated in 1976.

Nearest parishes

*Livramento, east
*downtown Ponta Delgada, southwest
*Fajã de Baixo, west
*Fajã de Cima, northwest

Geography

*Location:
**Latitude: 37.733 (37°44') N
**Longitude: 25.633 (25°38') W
*Altitude:
**Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
**Centre: 1 m (3 ft)
**Highest: northern part

History

The first inhabitants on the island of São Miguel were primarily farmers, and were granted tracts of land to cultivate. These small populations would eventually form the nucleus of the three main agglomerations in southern São Miguel: Matriz, Santa Clara and São Pedro. In addition to agriculture, farmers were fishermen, complimenting their seasonal activities and sheltered by the natural harbours in the regions.

By 1499, the population included the writer Pêro de Tieve, who signed the document that elevated Ponta Delgada to status of town. In the 18th century, the residence of Morgado do Canto became the residence for Don Pedro IV, Duke of Brangança, when he disembarked and installed his Liberalist faction in the Azores. From here, the Duke would travel to the other islands and gather forces before parting for the continent with 7,500 troops to combat the Absolutionist faction. The departure occurred from Relvão, a zone that was later transformed into a public walkway and retained the title of Alemeda da Liberidade or Alemeda do Duque de Bragança.

Persons

*Roberto Ivens (June 12, 1850 in the parish of São Pedro - January 28, 1898 in Dafundo, Lisbon)

Other

São Pedro has a few schools, lyceums, gymnasiums, a church and a square ("praça").

External links

*http://www.azoren-online.com/saomiguel/tipps/sehenswuerdigkeiten/saopedro/index.shtml (in German)
*Map and aerial photos
** [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=37.733&longitude=-25.633&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest] , [http://maps.msn.com/map.aspx?&lats1=37.733&lons1=-25.633&alts1=35 MapPoint] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=37.733,-25.633 Google]
** [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-25.633&lat=37.733&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.733,-25.633&spn=0.11,0.18&t=k Google]
*Coordinates: coord|37|44|0|N|25|38|0|W|