Requalification of Community Wells and Pilgrim Monument

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Madeira > São Vicente > Ponta Delgada > Roca

Location

This site is located in the Roca area, in the parish of Ponta Delgada, municipality of São Vicente. Situated on the north coast of Madeira Island, it is set in an environment that combines the characteristic green of the Madeiran landscape with proximity to the sea. Roca is an area that offers an authentic perspective on local life, away from large urban concentrations, allowing for more direct contact with the tranquility and traditions of the region.

The Community Washhouses: A Historical Legacy

The Community Washhouses represent a significant part of the local ethnographic heritage. Historically, these tanks were essential points for rural communities, serving as places for washing and water supply. They were also spaces for social interaction and sharing in the daily lives of the population. Their rehabilitation underscores the value attributed to the preservation of these traditional infrastructures, restoring their dignity and ensuring that the memory of past practices remains visible and accessible to visitors.

The Pilgrim's Monument: A Memory of Faith and Journey

Adjacent to the washhouses, stands the Pilgrim's Monument, a piece that pays homage to pilgrims and their journeys of faith. This monument symbolizes the devotion and spiritual path that once marked and still marks the lives of many on the island. Its presence invites reflection on religious traditions and the paths taken, being an element of cultural and spiritual significance in the landscape of Ponta Delgada. It is a tribute to the persistence and faith of past and present generations.

A Space for Reflection and Madeiran Identity

Together, the rehabilitated Community Washhouses and the Pilgrim's Monument form a place that provides a genuine connection to the history and cultural identity of Ponta Delgada. More than mere structures, they are testimonies of an era and a way of life. The space offers an opportunity to understand the importance of water in the lives of communities and the depth of faith expressed in pilgrimages. It is a point where Madeira's rural past meets the symbolism of devotion, inviting a moment of quietude and appreciation of local heritage.

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