Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill
District: Açores > São Roque do Pico > Santa Luzia > Cabrito
Situated in the locality of Santa Luzia, within the municipality of São Roque do Pico, this place is found in an area characteristic of the Azorean landscape, marked by the dominant presence of volcanic rock and constant proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The name "Ponta Negra" (Black Point) suggests a coastal environment of great natural beauty, where the dark tones of basaltic stone contrast vividly with the deep blue of the sea.
From this point, it is possible to absorb the tranquil atmosphere and contemplate the grandeur of the natural environment that characterizes Pico Island, providing a unique perspective on the relationship between man and the volcanic nature of the Azores.
The "Maroiço of a threshing floor in Santa Luzia" is an eloquent vestige of the historical importance of cereal agriculture on Pico Island. A threshing floor (eira) was traditionally the heart of post-harvest agricultural activity, a large, flat space where grains were threshed and prepared. The "maroiço" referred to in this location is a stone structure, built with local basalt, which was integrated into this agricultural complex.
This structure was vital for communities, serving not only for threshing but also, at times, for grinding cereals. Its presence is a testament to the ingenuity with which rural populations harnessed natural resources, such as wind, for their daily needs, transforming the landscape into sustenance.
The construction of this maroiço is a remarkable example of the vernacular architecture of the island, where volcanic stone is the predominant and defining material. The construction techniques of dry stone, which forgo the use of mortar, demonstrate the mastery and profound adaptation of local communities to their environment, utilizing the materials that the island itself offered in abundance.
This architectural complex, harmoniously integrated into the volcanic landscape, not only represents an ancestral constructive method but also reflects human resilience and the ability to create durable infrastructures that served the daily needs of the rural population, remaining a distinctive element of the island's built heritage.
More than a mere stone structure, the "Maroiço of a threshing floor in Santa Luzia, Ponta Negra" offers an authentic glimpse into the way of life of the Picoroto ancestors. It is a place that invites reflection on the hard labor in the fields, the dependence on natural cycles, and the ability to transform a challenging environment into a source of life and progress.
Its permanence, resisting time and the elements, is a silent testament to the history and culture of the island, a tangible point of connection with a past that shaped the Azorean identity and its people, celebrating human ingenuity and perseverance in the face of adversity.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.5575342,-28.3896799
Coordinates DMS: 38°33'27.1"N 28°23'22.8"W
Weather Santa Luzia
On-duty Pharmacy Santa Luzia
