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Vila Franca do Campo
About 25 km east of Ponta Delgada, on the south coast, lies the former capital of the Azores, Vila Franca do Campo, which lost its status of capital to Ponta Delgado after it had been almost completely destroyed by a disastrous earthquake in 1522. Vila Franca do Campo has also an important in Portugal’s history, as in 1582, a decisive naval battle took place off its shores, which the Spaniards won and Prince Philippe II of Spain ascended the Portuguese throne. Today what you can call a typical fishing port, Vila Franca do Campo is a rather prosperous little town, its economic wealth coming mainly from fishing, cattle raising and agriculture, with a concentration on pineapple cultivation. This district alone counts about 800 greenhouses, where around 500,000 to 800,000 fruits are produced each year! Vila Franca do Campo is also famous for its pottery, which looks back on a century-long tradition.
Among its historic structures, Ponta Delgada’s churches deserve a special mentioning, in particular the Igreja de São Miguel, a parish church, which was originally built in the 15th century, but it was completely destroyed during the earthquake of 1522 and then reconstructed the same way as it had been before. This three-naved church boasts an impressive façade with a frontispiece ornate with the Cross of Christ, a Gothic style ogive doorway and a basalt belfry. In the interior feature a remarkable gilded wood-carved chancel, marvellous panels with ‘azulejos’ of great artistic value and several stoups, beautifully carved in basalt. Other interesting churches are the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz, high on a hill with the same name and offering magnificent views, the Igreja de São Pedro, dating from the 18th century and built over a Gothic chapel, featuring a remarkable Baroque façade and gilded wood carvings in the interior. There is also the Igreja de Santo André, a structure from the 16th and 17th centuries showing a mixture of Baroque and neo-classic style, with two naves, a carved wood high altar, panelled ceilings and walls decorated with glazed tiles.
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