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| Criação Velha | |
|---|---|
| Name | Criação Velha |
| Settlement type | Civil parish |
| Region | Azores |
| Island | Pico |
| Municipality | Madalena |
Criação Velha is a civil parish on the island of Pico in the Azores archipelago, within the municipality of Madalena, Pico. It is noted for its extensive vineyards, volcanic landscapes, and inclusion in the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture UNESCO World Heritage designation, attracting researchers from institutions such as Universidade dos Açores, Instituto Hidrográfico, and Direção Regional do Turismo. The parish combines agricultural practices linked to viniculture with heritage conservation overseen by bodies like UNESCO, Direção-Geral do Património Cultural, and regional museums including the Museu do Vinho.
Criação Velha lies on the southwestern flank of Pico, bordered by the parishes of Madalena and Candelária, and faces the channel toward São Jorge Island and Faial Island. The terrain is dominated by lava fields from historical eruptions of Mount Pico and fissural flows associated with the Lajes volcano and local volcanic centers; the soil is lapilli and basaltic tuff mapped by the Serviço Regional de Proteção Civil, the Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar, and geologists from Universidade de Lisboa. Coastal features include basalt cliffs, the tidal platforms near the port of Madalena, and marine habitats studied by researchers from CIIMAR and the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera.
Settlement in the area dates to the period of colonization under the House of Aviz during the early modern expansion of the Kingdom of Portugal, with land grants mediated by families connected to the Casa da Ribeira Grande and settlers arriving from Terceira Island and Graciosa Island. Historical records from the Arquivo Regional de Ponta Delgada and parish registers at the Igreja Matriz de São Mateus document famines, epidemics like outbreaks tracked by Instituto Ricardo Jorge, and emigration waves to New England, Brazil, and Venezuela in the 19th and 20th centuries. Criação Velha's vineyards were developed through community-led initiatives similar to projects supported by the Sociedade de Instrução Micaelense and later protected by legislation promulgated by the Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores and the Governo dos Açores.
The local economy centers on viticulture, wine production, and agro-tourism, with vineyards cultivated in narrow stone-walled plots known as currais or currais da vinha, techniques comparable to those preserved in the Madeira and Douro regions and promoted by the Instituto do Vinho e da Vinha. Native grape varieties such as Verdelho, Arinto and Terrantez have been studied by oenologists from Universidade do Porto and commercial producers who participate in fairs organized by ViniPortugal and export via ports like Horta and Ponta Delgada. Complementary activities include fishing linked to fleets registered with the Polícia Marítima and small-scale horticulture sold through cooperatives affiliated to CAP — Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal.
Population trends have been shaped by emigration documented in manifests preserved at the Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo and demographic studies undertaken by the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Portugal), showing aging cohorts similar to other parishes on Pico Island and labor shifts toward tourism and services overseen by the Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional. Family names recorded in civil registries correspond to lineages tied to neighboring parishes and to migrant communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as analyzed in genealogical work by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Genealogia.
Local culture preserves festivals, religious feasts, and vernacular practices connected to Nossa Senhora da Conceição and celebrations patterned after liturgical calendars used by the Patriarchate of Lisbon and parish clergy of the Diocese of Angra do Heroísmo. Ethnographic research by the Museu Etnográfico de Lisboa and folklorists from Universidade dos Açores documents traditional music, crafts, and the architecture of wine terraces similar to practices in Madeira and Douro Valley. Gastronomy features seafood preparations akin to recipes in publications by the Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Engenharia and desserts referenced in works by the Academia Portuguesa de Gastronomia.
Significant landmarks include the stone-walled vineyard landscapes inscribed by UNESCO, the parish chapel affiliated with the Diocese of Angra do Heroísmo, and vernacular houses built with local basalt comparable to constructions catalogued by the Direção-Geral do Património Cultural. Nearby maritime landmarks include the port facilities of Madalena and lighthouses of the Instituto Marítimo Portuário e dos Transportes Marítimos; conservation initiatives have been supported by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and European programs administered by the Comissão Europeia.
Access to the parish is via municipal roads connecting to the port of Madalena and the regional airport Aeroporto do Pico (PGP), with maritime links to Horta and ferry services operated by companies such as Atlânticoline. Utilities and services are provided in coordination with regional agencies including the Empresa de Electricidade dos Açores, water management overseen by the Águas e Energia dos Açores, and emergency services coordinated with the Proteção Civil Nacional.
Category:Pico Island Category:Parishes of Madalena, Azores