Handicraft Cooperative Santa Maria Ltd.

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Vila do Porto > Santo Espírito

Location:

The Santa Maria Handicraft Cooperative Crl is located in Santo Espírito, one of the parishes of the municipality of Vila do Porto, on Santa Maria Island. Santo Espírito is known for its quiet and rural atmosphere, a place where life unfolds at the pace of island traditions.

Its location in this serene environment underscores the connection of artisanal work to the island's roots and local culture. Visitors will find here a space integrated into the typical rural landscape, away from the hustle and bustle and close to the Marian essence.

Origin and Preservation:

Founded in 1989, the Santa Maria Handicraft Cooperative Crl was established with the purpose of boosting the economy of the small parish of Santo Espírito. Its creation primarily aimed to prevent the valuable handicraft traditions of Santa Maria Island from being lost to time.

This place is a bastion of local culture, keeping alive manufacturing practices that have spanned generations. It represents a community effort to safeguard the island's intangible heritage, offering a window into its history and ingenuity.

The Art of Manual Creation:

The work developed at the cooperative covers two main areas of Marian handicraft: weaving and the production of traditional bakery and confectionery products. The art of weaving, in particular, is valued and perpetuated here, standing out for its quality and authenticity.

In the confectionery section, delicacies with centuries-old recipes are prepared, such as cavacas, biscoitos de orelha, and other island specialties, which represent genuine flavors of Santa Maria. The weaving produced in this space benefits from the official recognition of the "Artesanato dos Açores" brand, a seal that attests to its conformity with Azorean handicraft quality and tradition standards.

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