Fixed stone mill on the Queimada Wharf, Carregadouro.

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Velas > Queimada > Cais da Queimada

Location

Situated in the picturesque Cais da Queimada, a locality belonging to the municipality of Velas, on the stunning island of São Jorge, Azores, the fixed stone Mill stands in a coastal environment of great uniqueness. Its position, along the coastline and with the constant Atlantic breeze, offers a setting of oceanic vastness, typical of Azorean landscapes. The designation "Carregadouro" evokes the memory of a place of once intense maritime activity, where the community's connection to the sea was palpable. Visitors to this place find themselves before the immense blue of the ocean, accompanied by the characteristic sound of waves kissing the coast.

A Legacy of Land and Wind

This stone windmill is a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the Azorean communities. Its robust construction and fixed structure, rising above the coastal landscape, symbolize the bygone ability to harness natural resources for subsistence. It played a vital role in grinding cereals, such as corn and wheat, which were pillars of the local diet and economy on an island where self-sufficiency was crucial. The mill thus represents a tangible link to the agricultural past and the daily lives of the inhabitants of São Jorge island, marked by the harmony between human labor and the forces of nature.

Architecture and Landscape Integration

The architecture of this mill reflects its functionality and adaptation to the island environment. Built of stone, an abundant and resistant material, its structure is an example of the solidity of traditional Azorean constructions, designed to withstand sometimes adverse weather conditions, particularly strong winds and maritime humidity. Its shape, though simple, was designed to capture wind energy, transforming it into motive power. The mill is not just an isolated structure; it integrates organically into the landscape of Cais da Queimada, becoming an integral part of the visual and historical identity of this corner of São Jorge island.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt