Fixed stone mill in Urzelina, Caminho Novo

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Velas > Urzelina > Ribeira do Nabo

Location

Situated in the serene locality of Urzelina, a picturesque corner on the island of São Jorge, Azores, the fixed stone Windmill is located in the area known as Caminho Novo. Its strategic position, frequently on slightly elevated points, allowed it to capture the dominant winds, essential for its operation. From this point, visitors can appreciate the surrounding predominantly rural landscape, marked by the typical stone walls that delimit the fields and the vastness of the Atlantic embracing the island.

The windmill integrates harmoniously into the local scenery, offering an authentic perspective on the Azorean environment, where nature and human constructions intertwine in a framework of tranquility and timeless beauty.

Testament to a Rural Legacy

This stone windmill represents a notable example of Azorean popular engineering and a valuable link to the agricultural past of São Jorge island. In times past, mills like this were crucial for the subsistence of communities, ensuring the grinding of cereals such as wheat and corn, staples of the local diet. Its existence underscores the ingenuity and resilience of the populations in times when energy and resources were obtained directly from nature.

Visiting this site is to delve into an era where the rhythm of life was dictated by natural elements and self-sufficiency was a pressing need, revealing the historical importance of these structures for the development of Azorean communities.

Architectural Features

The structure of the fixed stone Windmill in Urzelina stands out for its robustness and functional simplicity. Built with local stone, probably of volcanic origin, its base is a cylindrical or slightly truncated-conical body, solid and durable. This fixed construction, in contrast to some types of windmills that could rotate their entire body, relied on the rotation of its cap (or 'capelo') and sails to capture wind from any direction.

Its architectural features reflect the constructive wisdom of generations, who knew how to adapt available materials and traditional techniques to create an efficient and durable machine, perfectly adapted to the climatic and geographical conditions of the Azores.

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