Friar's Mill, Old Creation, Canada do Monte

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Madalena > Criação Velha > Canada do Monte

Location

The Moinho do Frade (Friar's Windmill) is located in Criação Velha, in the area known as Canada do Monte, within the municipality of Madalena. It is situated in an area of particular prominence due to its integration into the Protected Landscape of Pico Island. Its position contributes to the unique visual character of this landscape, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Located at a modest altitude, between 10 and 20 meters, the windmill benefits from surroundings marked by dry stone walls and vineyards, distinctive elements of this coastal zone. Access to the site is via a "canada," a typical unpaved rural track.

History and Restoration

Built during the 20th century, the Moinho do Frade was part of the network of windmills that dotted the Pico landscape, testifying to past agricultural and milling activities. Although marked on old topographic maps, the windmill was in ruins by the end of the 20th century.

Between 2003 and 2004, the windmill underwent a comprehensive reconstruction project. The intervention allowed for the recovery of its original structure, restoring its presence in the landscape and assigning it a museological function, thus preserving the memory of its use.

Traditional Architecture

The Moinho do Frade is an example of the rotating wooden windmill typology, characteristic of Faial Island but also present in Pico. Its base rests on a truncated conical pedestal, built from local stone masonry with robust joints.

The upper structure is made of wood, painted in a vibrant red hue that contrasts with the four white sails of the blades, also constructed from wood. The original internal mechanism has been preserved. This combination of materials and colors gives the windmill its unmistakable silhouette in the landscape.

Element in the Cultural Landscape

The presence of the Moinho do Frade in Criação Velha is not just an architectural landmark, but an integral element of the Vineyard Culture Landscape of Pico Island, recognized worldwide. The structure, with its circular threshing floor, blends harmoniously into the context of the vineyard corrals, stone walls, and proximity to the sea.

Its strategic location, though impactful due to its visibility, underlines the historical relationship between local communities, their subsistence needs (such as grain milling), and the natural and cultural environment in which they lived. The reconstruction has contributed to the valorization of this heritage within a protected and classified area.

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