Windmill in the Square

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Horta > Cedros

Location

This windmill is located in the village of Cedros, one of the parishes that make up the municipality of Horta, on Faial Island. Its position in the central square of the village gives it a prominent role in the local urban landscape. Situated at an altitude ranging between 90 and 100 meters, the site is accessible by car, although the last few meters may involve a dirt track, placing it within a more rural and authentic setting.

Milling Heritage

The Praça windmill is an example of the "wooden rotating mill" type, characteristic of Faial. This particular typology allowed the entire upper wooden structure to rotate on a stone base, adapting to the wind direction for efficient operation. Its presence on old maps from 1969 attests to the relevance it once had for the community, indicating its vital role in grain milling.

A Community Legacy

A historical particularity of this mill is that it belonged to a society. This shared ownership model was common in the past, reflecting the importance of community cooperation in the sustainability of essential activities, such as flour production. The mill thus represents not only a piece of traditional engineering, but also a testament to the spirit of mutual aid that shaped rural life in Faial.

Scenic Element

The Praça windmill, with its pedestal built of exposed stone and mortar, stands out as a picturesque element in the landscape of Cedros. The pedestal has an internal diameter of 2.20 meters at its top. Its structure and location contribute to the peaceful atmosphere of the square, inviting a moment of observation and contemplation. It is a point that harks back to a past where wind was the essential driving force for the subsistence of populations, offering a perspective on the traditional life of Faial Island.

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