Hermitage of Our Lady of the Angels

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Açores > Vila do Porto > Vila do Porto > Anjos

Location

Situated in the Anjos area, part of Vila do Porto, on Santa Maria Island, the hermitage is located within a walled churchyard. It is positioned to adapt to the terrain, offering a tranquil environment. Opposite, across the road, there is a space with a statue dedicated to Christopher Columbus, marking the historical connection of the site.

Also visible, on the slope above, is a stone cross, associated with a local legend, which contributes to the surrounding scenery of this historic site.

A Historic Landmark in the Azores

The Ermida de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos (Hermitage of Our Lady of the Angels) is considered one of the oldest religious temples in the Azores archipelago, dating back to the first decades of the settlement of Santa Maria Island, which began in 1439. Originally built of wood, it was re-erected in stone between 1460 and 1474. Its existence is mentioned in ancient documents, including the will of Infante D. Henrique.

This site has a notable connection to the history of the great navigations. In February 1493, on his return from his first voyage to America, Christopher Columbus's crew would have disembarked here to fulfill a vow and attend a thanksgiving mass, highlighting its importance in the early days of Atlantic expansion.

Construction Details

The current building, largely resulting from works at the end of the 19th century (1893), features a simple rectangular plan, with whitewashed walls and stone masonry finishes. Note the cornerstones crowned by pinnacles and the isolated bell tower next to the churchyard, where an old araucaria tree also beautifies the ensemble.

Inside, the single nave features elements such as the wooden choir loft and the turned wooden pulpit, dating from the 18th century. The main altar has an interesting altarpiece frontal of 17th-century polychrome tiles, notable for their oriental inspiration, and houses a retable with painted panels and a 15th/16th-century triptych, which may include the original image of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos.

Attached to the back of the hermitage is a singular "theatro". This covered rectangular structure, supported by pillars on a low wall, is an example of the local typology of religious "theatros" and an interesting architectural element associated with the temple.

Memories of Pirates and Miracles

The history of the hermitage is also marked by dramatic events, namely the attacks by North African pirates in the 17th century (1616 and 1675). Tradition says that, during these attacks that plagued the island, the hermitage was spared, a fact that popular belief attributed to a divine intervention by the Virgin.

Inside the hermitage, it is possible to find an inscription that recounts the 1675 attack, mentioning the captives taken and the whip that was allegedly used by the attackers. This physical object, preserved on site, serves as a tangible reminder of those turbulent times and the resilience of the Mariense community.

The Legend of the Construction

A popular legend surrounds the choice of location for the construction of the hermitage. It is said that the first inhabitants wished to erect it on the low site where it now stands, by the sea, but those responsible for the work preferred the top of the nearby rock, the place where Gonçalo Velho and his crew prayed the first mass. Mysteriously, the stones placed on high by the workers appeared on the lower site the next day.

After witnessing the stones moving by themselves down the slope, following the image of Our Lady, they decided to build the hermitage on the site "indicated" by Our Lady, which coincided with popular will. A large stone cross was erected on the originally planned high site, in memory of this singular event and to mark the miracle.

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