Praia da Vitória | |
|---|---|
 View of Praia da Vitória from the outlook of Facho. | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of the municipality of Praia da Vitória in the archipelago of the Azores | |
| Coordinates:38°44′0″N27°3′59″W / 38.73333°N 27.06639°W /38.73333; -27.06639 | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Auton. region | Azores |
| Island | Terceira |
| Established | Settlement: fl. 1400 Municipality: c. 1480 |
| Parishes | 11 |
| Government | |
| • President | Tibério Dinis |
| Area | |
• Total | 161.27 km2 (62.27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 21,035 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (340/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−01:00 (AZOT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+00:00 (AZOST) |
| Postal code | 9760-851 |
| Area code | 292 |
| Patron | Santa Cruz |
| Local holiday | 11 August |
| Website | http://www.cmpv.pt |
Praia da Vitória (Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈpɾajɐðɐviˈtɔɾi.ɐ]ⓘ; translating as "Beach of Victory") is amunicipality in thePortuguese archipelago of theAzores. With a population of 21,035 (in 2011), the second largest administrative authority on the island ofTerceira, it covers an area of 162.29 square kilometres (62.66 sq mi), that extends from the northern coast halfway into the interior.[1][2]
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The area of Praia, was one of the first points colonized on the island of Terceira. Praia constituted the seat of the Donatary-Captaincy of Terceira between 1456 and 1474; the island's first Captain,Jácome de Bruges along with his first lieutenant,Diogo de Teive, established their residency at this site. By 1474, the island was divided into two captaincies (Praia and Angra): the Captaincy of Praia reverted toÁlvaro Martins Homem, Bruges' successor. The growth of thewoad industry and export wheat market concentrated along the fertileRamo Grande area, allowed Praia to grow rapidly. Consequently, Praia was elevated to the status ofvila (comparable to town) in 1480 (then still within the administration of Álvaro Martins Homem).
By the last quarter of the 16th century,Gaspar Frutuoso (the celebrated Azorean historian), wrote of Praia in these terms:
...and shortly there is the town of Praia, noble and sumptuous and with good buildings, built in a very good style, circled by a good wall, with its forts and bulwarks all around, populated by nobles and older residents, with one of the older settlements of the island, circled by famous and rich farms of nobles and grandiose nobility, with a parish and sumptuous church of three naves, with a vaulted main chapel and porticoes and pillars of well worked marble, all circled by chapels of the grand first-born...its principal invocation is to the Holy Cross...where the house of Mercy and hospital, with two churches, one the hospital of the Holy Spirit and the other to Our Lady, with a nave down the middle...; it's a famous monastery of Saint Francis where there still continue to reside ten or twelve religious, where there are many chapels of the grand first-born similar to the above indicated; three monasteries for nuns, the more principal of the those is to Jesus..., with forty nuns with black veils and two, one of Our Lady of the Light and the other Our Lady of the Stigmata, give obedience and observation to Saint Francis, where there are few religious[3]
During theIberian Union, KingPhilip II of Spain ordered an armada to Terceira to impose the governorship of Ambrósia de Aguiar Coutinho on his unruly subjects in the Azores and facilitate shipping to the Indies. Under the command of Pedro de Valdez, the fleet arrived in Santa Maria with seven largecarracks and 1000 troops, took on provisions and sailed for São Miguel in the spring (where Governor Ambrósio de Aguiar Coutinho and his cousin supplied the group). After an initial assault on Angra, Valdez rushed to assault the island, disembarking troops at the Casa da Salga, in the valley ofPorto Judeu (a mile fromVila de São Sebastião), incensed that King Phillip was sending a larger contingent to capture Terceira. TheBattle of Salga became an important event in the village ofSão Sebastião (then a parish of Praia) broke out along the coast in 1582.
During the Restoration of Portuguese Independence, the citizenry of Praia acclaimed KingJohn IV, when Francisco Ornelas da Câmara arrived in Terceira.
The settlement was destroyed during the 1614Caída da Praia earthquake, with many of the residents along the coast lost to the sea. Along the 17th century, even as the community was being re-constructed, there were several seismic aftershocks.[citation needed]
During theLiberal Wars, the harbour was the scene of a naval battle (in 1829) between the Liberals and the Absolutists, competing factions in support ofKing Pedro IV andKing Miguel, respectively, during theLiberal Wars. TheBattle of Praia ensued when a squadron of Miguelist troops attempted to disembark at Praia (11 August 1829). As a result of this victory, QueenMaria II after being restored to the throne, acted to recognize its residents for their heroism by appending"Mui Notável" (Very notable) and"da Vitória" (of the Victoria) to its name (12 January 1837): it was at this time that Praia became known asPraia da Vitória.
Its importance in the economy of the north continued, even after the secondCaída da Praia earthquake (on 15 June 1841), that partially destroyed the settlement. Its reconstruction, at the end of the 19th century was motivated by councillor José Silvestre Ribeiro. As priest Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade (who lived in the town at the time), referred to Praia da Vitória:
The traveller who leavesCabo da Praia is quickly encounters the magnificent and majestic Vila da Praia da Vitória, which is located a short distance, no less than a quarter league ...
The town was elevated to city on 20 June 1981, although it continued to be referred to as theVila da Praia da Vitória (until 1983). In the second half of the 20th century, a large aerodrome was constructed along the southwestern side of thePortuguese Air Base No.4. In addition, the port of Praia was expanded to include a 1400-metre extension. These two projects have supported the municipality's growth, along with its large industrial centre.
Praia da Vitória occupies the northern and eastern coasts of Terceira, bisecting it from northwest to southeast, through a varied geomorphology.
Administratively, the municipality of Praia da Vitória is divided into the following civil parishes, which handle local distribution of services and support the local residents:
The urban centre, that includes the parishes of Lajes and Santa Cruz, fronts a ridge known asFacho that overlooks the airport of Lajes. It was used as a lookout for pirates and invaders, and later as marine military semaphore station and primitive lighthouse (lasting for 400 years). Apart from pasture-lands, the ridge was occupied by marine/naval housing and support buildings for Portuguese Air Base 4. At the far end is a monument dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mary and lookout.
Praia da Vitória is a services, fishing and agricultural municipality and boasts a large marina, popular with theyachting community, with the only sizeable sand beach on Terceira.
Lajes Air Base, a jointUnited States andPortuguese air force base, lies three kilometers to the north of the town. American servicemen frequent the restaurants and clubs in the town and add considerably to the local economy.
The town boasts two notable churches, several public squares, and a number of hotels and restaurants.
In the municipal park (Jardim municipal) a monument was erected in 1879 in memory of José Silvestre Ribeiro (1807–1891), a Portuguese politician who organized the reconstruction of the city after the earthquake in 1841.
It is popular withwindsurfers because of the constant seabreezes. Praia da Vitoria hosts an annualtriathlon and is known for its unique style ofbullfighting,tourada à corda.
 Municipalities of theAzores Autonomous Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Corvo |  | |
| Faial | ||
| Flores | ||
| Graciosa | ||
| Pico | ||
| Santa Maria | ||
| São Jorge | ||
| São Miguel | ||
| Terceira | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
