Fixed stone mill in Luz, Canada da Cisterna

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Santa Cruz da Graciosa > Luz > Canada da Cisterna

Location

This windmill is located in the parish of Luz, one of the inhabited areas of Graciosa Island. Specifically, it is situated on Canada da Cisterna. A "canada", in the context of the Azores islands, typically refers to a path or track, often bordered by stone walls, that crosses rural or more scattered residential areas.

Its location invites a stroll through the surroundings, offering a glimpse into the rural landscape and traditional way of life on Graciosa, in an area that maintains a tranquil and authentic atmosphere.

A Testament to History

This stone windmill is one of the elements that tell the story of Graciosa Island's agricultural past. In times past, windmills were crucial for grinding cereals, such as wheat and corn, which sustained the local population.

Seeing this windmill allows for a visual connection with the techniques and hard work of past generations, who depended on the force of nature for their daily needs.

Architecture and Landscape

It is a fixed-type windmill, built of stone. The basic structure is a solid tower, usually cylindrical or conical, whitewashed, contrasting with the green landscape and the blue Azorean sky. At the top, it has a rotating cap that allowed the triangular sails to be oriented according to the wind direction.

The presence of the windmill in Canada da Cisterna not only preserves an example of traditional architecture but also enriches the local landscape, making it more characteristic and interesting for those who travel through it.

A Symbol of the Island

Windmills are distinctive elements of Graciosa Island's landscape and today function as true symbols of its identity and cultural heritage. This fixed stone windmill in Luz, Canada da Cisterna, represents that heritage.

Visiting its location is a way of appreciating not only the building itself but also the historical and cultural context it evokes, providing a deeper experience of the island.

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