Pico

Geographic information. The oblique shaped island of Pico has an area of 447 km2, with a length of 15.2 km and a maximum width of 42 km. Its structure around the volcano gives the name to the island; it rises gradually until the altitude of 2.351 meters. The island is situated at 38º 30’ North longitude and 28º 20 West latitude. The population of the island stands at 14.806 inhabitants (2001 census).

The island is divided in three municipalities: Lajes do Pico, Madalena and San Roque. The first is constituted by the localities of Calheta do Nesquin, Lajes do Pico, Piedade, Ribeiras, Ribeirinha and Sâo Joâo. Bandeiras, Candelária, CriâÇao Velha, Madalena SâoCaetano and Sâo Mateus integrate the second municipality and to the rest belong Prainha, Santa Luzia, Santo Amaro, Santo António and Sâo Roque do Pico.

Festivities. The main festivities of this island are:

The Holy Spirit Festivity: The most important celebration of this island is the Holy Spirit Festivity, common to all islands and organized by a small chapel, called "Império". These festivity is an important religious feast that takes place all the Sundays during seven weeks before Christmas and culminates the seventh Sunday, Whitsun.

Landing stage of August. The Landing stage festivities of the island of Pico has as a principal attraction the performance of national and international musical groups; small whaling boat races; cultural activities and expositions, that attract to this village thousands of immigrants and visitors from the rest of the islands. It is celebrated on the last weekend of July.

“Santa María Magdalena” Festivity. It is celebrated in July 23. Religious and profane event in honor of the municipality's patron saint. There are also music concerts, sporting and cultural events.

"Bom Jesus Milagroso" Festivities. Religious event of great importance, in the archipelago's central group, and in the village of Sao Mateus do Pico in particular.

During three days, beginning on August 6, the image of "Senhor do Bom Jesus Milagroso" is venerated by thousands of pilgrims which go to this village, coming from all over the islands, as well as many emigrants wanting to pay their "promises". In these days, the locality is decorated with a variety of colors for the feasts and it is pleasant by the philharmonics music.

Whaler's Week. Event connected with whaling that for many years was one of the main economic activities in the Azores. This feast is celebrated in honor to Our Lady of Lourdes and it pays homage to all of those who took part in this activity. The last week of August is organized musical shows, small whaling boat races, handicraft expositions and other cultural activities. As well in this village since 1998 is realized the Biennial of the Azores Whales where are gathered national and foreign specialists that are related with the observation of the whales.

The Grape gathering Festivity. Event connected with grape gathering for wine production that takes place during the second week of September. It is celebrated with a variety of activities, among those who emphasize the boat race “Route of the Verdelho Wine”.

Gastronomy. Likewise rich in its gastronomy, the island of Pico has a vast joint of dishes only of flavors. Fresh fishes, good meat of cow and pork and good crustaceous are raw materials used in the elaboration of the famous soups of fishes, pork sausage with Taro, meat and stewed octopus among others.

The cheese of Pico is likewise an international recognized product and served as a starter or dessert, with bread or corn homemade cake. In cakes and pastries, emphasize the sweet rice and the typical breads of the Holy Spirit Festivities.

Besides, Pico counts with wines of high quality, as much as a starter and as white, red, and table wines, the “angelica” and the brandies among others.

History

During the first half of the XVth century after it’s conquer, Pico began to grow, about 1460 from people of the north of Portugal. His first captain was Álvaro de las Ornelas, he never took possession of the island because finally Capitanería of Faial was incorporated.

Lajes was the first burgo of the island, receiving its letter in 1501 followed by São Enroque in 1542. It´s inhabitants dedicate-under the influence of the neighbour Faial island- to the culturing of the wheat, grapevine and pastel, as well as fishing. From this time, a lot of centuries came by which the island remains practically forgotten of the history, showing of only for the important volcanic eruptions of the XVIIIth century.

In 1723, Madalena reaches the title of burgo, confirming this way its economic importance as a connection port with Faial wich was trading with the exterior. The city became also into residence of the owners of the immense vineyards of the zone. With great effort and intense work, the fields of lava have been transform in gardens and in vineyards, which gave products of high quality as the verdelho de Pico, reaching during more than 200 years an international recogntion in different countries as England, America and Russia, where it was served In the table of the Zars. In middle of the XIXth century, the disease of the grapevines destroys the vineyard, bringing a slow recovery.

In the XVIIIth century, the presence of the American whale-boats in the waters of The Azores, introduced a new pole of activity in the island - the hunt for the cachalot- that was for years an important source of wealth.

In these days Pico is an important economic developed island, thanks to the infrastructure, new ports and, especially, a recently inaugurated airport.

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