Santo Espírito is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Vila do Porto, in the autonomous region of Azores. The population in 2011 was 588, in an area of 26.68 km².

History

The parish was first referred in the chronicles of Gaspar Frutuoso: Monte Alverne later identified that this area was associated with Nossa Senhora da Purificação, in the place of Espírito Santo. In the area of Malbusca, during the early settlement of the region, the colonists collected the fungus Roccella tinctoria which was exported to Flanders to produce woad, in an artisanal and risky process:

Geography

The parish borders the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, and it is the largest parish by area covering an expanse of hills, mounts and vegetation-rich escarpments. It is the third most populated in the municipality of Vila do Porto, but its rural communities are very dispersed. Until recently most communities were limited to dirt-road paths and trails to connect them. It is now served by the regional road network, circling the island, and most rural communities have paved roadways.

Ecoregions/Protected areas

Recreational Forest Reserve of Fontinhas

Human geography

The parish is made up of several scattered communities, that include: Almas, Azenha de Baixo, Azenha de Cima, Boavista, Cardal, Calheta, Cruz, Feteirinha, Fonte do Jordão, Glória, Lapa de Baixo, Lapa de Cima, Loural, Maia, Malbusca, Meio Moio, Panasco, Piedade, Santo António, Santo Espírito and Terra do Raposo.

Architecture

Civic

Military

Religious