Flamengos

Flamengos (Portuguese for "Flemish" hence its first founders) a parish in the district of Horta in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 1,494, its density is 105.7/km² and the area is 14.13 km². Flamengos is located 5 km northwest of the city of Horta. Flamengos is linked with a road linking Horta and the western part of the island via higher elevations. Flamengos also offers the view of Mount Pico. Farmlands dominate the eastern part and the Flamengos valley while the mountain lies to the west and are covered with forests. Much of the population is employed in agriculture while a fraction of the population is employed in other industries. The mountaintop of Cabeço Gordo lies to the northwest.

Nearest places

*Conceição?, east-northeast
*Horta, east
*Feteiras, south
*Cedros, north-northwest
*Altitude:
**Lowest: near Horta (at the Flamengos-Horta boundary
**Centre: -
**Highest: Cabeço do Gordo (1,043 m)

History

The first settlers that arrived in the Ribeira dos Flamengos Valley and the foundation of Horta were from Flanders in Belgium. Farmlands were created in the area along the valley along with water springs and many great qualities.

Flamengos was raided by English pirates in 1597. This created a new risk to the village for days. It was rebuilt in 1606 with the share or Jerónimo de Utra Corte Real and again in 1736 by Manuel Brum da Silveira. The earthquake on December 31, 1936 destroyed most of the buildings and homes in the parish. The parish was later rebuilt twelve years later in 1938. Flamengos suffered damages to buildings on November 23, 1973 as well as the earthquake of June 9, 1998.

ites of interests

*Fontanário das Bicas on Rua do Capitão publicly was a spring that was used until 1852. It was one of the few fountains that was the place where people did their laundry in ponds of the river water. Historical evidences indicated the fountain, later called Bicas remoted the foundation of Flamengos. The construction of Ponte dos Flamengos initiated in 1903 which was concluded during 1908. Flamengos later opened an old pedestrian bridge that was built out of stones of small height.The 'Quinta de São Lourenço, an old property of Tomás de Porra Pereira, captain of Faial. Actually a part of the Serviços Agrários do Faial (Agrarian Services of Faial). It was the space for fairs and other expositions, folklores and other activities. In 1986, the Jardim Botânico do Faial or the Faial Botanical Gardens was planted featuring proportions of edemic and endangered plants as well as varieties of medicinal plants of the island. Ath the Jaime de Melo, features the Ermida de São João de Baptista which features the view of the Ribeira dos Flamengos valleys. Nearby is the pictures Salto da Lomba and the Ribeira do Corte. Apart from this is the Faial Caldeira and the Cabeço Gordo (1,043 m). Not far is the Parque Florestal do Cabouco Velho (Cabouço Velho Forest Park), which also covers a part of the parish of Salão. On the road eastbound to the city of Hoera via a road through Lomba da Esperança features natural views of the Ribeira dos Flamengos, Cabeços da Feteira and the city of Horta.

Traditions and Culture

The Sociedade Filarmónica Nova Artista Flamenguese, founded on January 23, 1881 was the first band that performed rural music. Between 1899 and 1912, the Essayer and the Musical Director, was the Maestro Francisco Xavier Simaria, The current one is Mário Francisco Leal Abreu. Besides this, there is the Tuna e Grupo Folclórico Juvenil dos Flamengos (Flamengos Tuna and the Youth Folklore Group) founded in 1978 by António da Luz Rodrigues, who served as its Essayer and Musical Director. Inside this group includes the Grupo de Cantares "Sons do Vale" on March 1, 1999.

Economy

The agricultural characteristics of the parish are well known and in cases represent the characteristics of Beiras and Beiras e Trás-os-Montes. The chimneys represent the typical characteristics of southern Portugal.

Other

Flamengos also has a school, a lyceum, churches, a nearby beach, a post office (including one named Nossa Senhora da Luz) and a few squares ("praças")

External links

*http://www.azoren-online.com/faial/tipps/sehenswuerdigkeiten/flamengos/index.shtml de icon
*Map and aerial photos
** [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=38.8833&longitude=&28.81667zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest] , [http://maps.msn.com/map.aspx?&lats1=38.8833&lons1=-28.81667&alts1=35 MapPoint] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=38.8833,-28.81667 Google]
** [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=28.81667&lat=38.8833&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver]