Wooden swivel mill in Ribeirinha, Rua do Passal

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Lajes do Pico > Ribeirinha > Canada Nova

Location

This windmill is located in Ribeirinha, a coastal town belonging to the municipality of Lajes do Pico. It is found in the area known as Canada Nova, more precisely on Rua do Passal. Its position, typically elevated to better catch the wind, often allows for appreciation of the surrounding landscape, characteristic of this area of Pico.

The Rotating Windmill

The Ribeirinha windmill is an example of the rotating windmill typology, built of wood. The particularity of this type of windmill lies in its ability to rotate the complete structure on its base, allowing the sails to be oriented in the most favorable wind direction. This characteristic distinguishes it from the fixed stone windmills common in other areas of Pico.

A Testament to History

The presence of windmills in the Azorean landscape is an echo of past times, when wind power was essential for grinding cereals and ensuring the sustenance of the populations. Observing this windmill in Ribeirinha offers a glimpse into the life and agricultural activities that shaped the island over the centuries. It is an element that invites reflection on traditional ingenuity and man's relationship with natural resources.

Element in the Landscape

With its wooden structure and the silhouette of its sails (when present), the windmill on Rua do Passal constitutes a visual point of interest in the landscape of Ribeirinha and Canada Nova. It integrates into the scenery, sometimes contrasting with the more modern urban environment, but maintaining its connection to the rural and coastal identity of Pico island. It represents an opportunity to observe a form of traditional architecture adapted to the force of nature.

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