Fixed stone mill in Feteira, Canada do Moinho.

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Angra do Heroísmo > Feteira > Canada do Moinho

Location

This mill is located in the village of Feteira, an integral part of the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island. It is specifically situated in the area known as Canada do Moinho. Its location in this part of Feteira places it in an environment that typically combines rural tranquility with proximity to the coastline, a characteristic of many Azorean communities.

The presence of the mill in Canada do Moinho suggests an elevation or strategic position that in other times would have been essential to capture the wind, a vital element for its operation. The surroundings may offer glimpses of the local landscape, shaped by nature and human activity.

Typical Architecture

This is an example of a fixed stone mill, a common type in the Azores. Its main structure is built of robust masonry, usually local volcanic stone, forming a cylindrical or slightly conical tower that rises from the ground. Unlike rotating mills, this tower remains fixed.

The solidity of the stone construction gives these mills great resistance and durability. The simple and functional aspect of their architecture reflects the needs of the time when they were built and the availability of materials on the island, integrating harmoniously into the Azorean rural landscape.

A Testament to the Past

This stone mill represents a link to the agricultural past of Terceira Island. Windmills played a fundamental role in the lives of local communities for centuries, being used to transform cereals, such as wheat and corn, into flour.

The existence of a mill in Feteira, in the area precisely designated Canada do Moinho, underscores the importance this activity had for the subsistence and economy of the locality. Visiting this site is an opportunity to imagine the daily life of yesteryear and appreciate the ingenuity of our ancestors in utilizing natural resources.

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