Maia (Ribeira Grande)

Coordinates: 37°49′57″N 25°23′18″W / 37.8325°N 25.38833°W / 37.8325; -25.38833

Maia
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
The coastal village of Maia, as seen from the hilltop belvedere
Official name: Freguesia da Maia
Country	Portugal
Autonomous Region	Azores
Group	Central
Island	São Miguel
Municipality	Ribeira Grande
Localities	Maia, Lombinha da Maia, Calços da Maia, Gorreana
Center	Maia
- elevation	27 m (89 ft)
- coordinates	37°49′57″N 25°23′18″W / 37.8325°N 25.38833°W / 37.8325; -25.38833
Highest point	Lomba dos Bezerros
- location	Picos, Maia, Ribeira Grande
- elevation	758.25 m (2,488 ft)
- coordinates	37°47′4″N 25°24′56″W / 37.78444°N 25.41556°W / 37.78444; -25.41556
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	7.6 km (5 mi), North-South
Width	5.49 km (3 mi), West-East
Area	21.97 km2 (8 sq mi)
- land	21.483 km2 (8 sq mi)
- water	.007 km2 (0 sq mi)
- urban	.48 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population	1,901 (2001)
Density	21.97 / km2 (57 / sq mi)
LAU	Freguesia/Junta Freguesia
- location	Rua Santa Catarina, Maia, Ribeira Grande
- elevation	22 m (72 ft)
- coordinates	37°49′58″N 25°23′13″W / 37.83278°N 25.38694°W / 37.83278; -25.38694
President Junta	Jaime Manuel Serpa da Costa Rita
President Assembleia	Graça Borges Castanho
Timezone	Azores (UTC-1)
- summer (DST)	Azores (UTC0)
ISO 3166-2 code	PT-
Postal Zone	9625-337 Maia
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Demonym	Ribeira-grandense; Maiense
Patron Saint	Divino Espírito Santo
Parish Address	Rua Santa Catarina 18 9625-337 Maia
Wikimedia Commons: Maia
Website: cm-ribeiragrande.azoresdigital.pt

Maia is a civil parish in Ribeira Grande Municipality in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2001 is 1,901, its density is 86.5/km² and the area is 21.97 km². Maia is the largest parish in area in Ribeira Grande.

History

The front facade of the Church of the Divino Espírito Santo

The tea fields in the foothills of Gorreana, established in the 18th Century: the only European region to support tea production

The first Azorean historians referred to this parish, owing to the settlement of Inês da Maia, a noblewoman that established a home here in the 15th Century.

The settlement of the community dates back to the early settlement of Ribeira Grande; the construction of the main church was begun at the end of the 15th Century. By 1522, it had its third vicar. Maia became one of the northern coasts more rapidly growing places: one hundred after its foundation it had become a civil parish.

The parochial church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit in 1812, constructed after a 16th Century chapel, and expanded in 17th and 18th Centuries. The Solar do Lalém, constructed at the end of the 19th Century, with chapel and 18th Century portal

In the area of Gorreana, thus named for the fact that the first resident was a man named Gorreana or gorro de Ana, who owned a tea plantation, a rare thing in Europe. ^[1] This area is also the location of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Resgate (Portuguese: Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Resgate), from the 18th Century, constructed with a decorative facade by the local farmers. In its interior, azulejos were assembled on the alter with a medallion and the patron saint in the same decoration.

In the area of Lombinha da Maia, named for its location on a small hill/escarpment (Portuguese: lombinha), a small chapel was constructed in 1896, to the invocation of Nossa Senhora das Dores. Later it was adapted, with a baptistry and sacristy to support the parishioners.

Geography

Maia has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasia, a church and a square (praça).

References

Notes

1. ^ The importance of the tea factory (Portuguese: Fábrica de Chá Gorreana) was celebrated during its centanary of operation, when the business demonstrated the infusions and various species that were cultivated in Gorreana over the years.