Faial (Santana)
| Faial | |||
| Freguesia do Faial | |||
| Civil Parish | |||
 A dramatic landscape of Penha de Águia, Faial, Santana
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| Name origin: Portuguese common name for the Myrica faya, a species of evergreen shrub | |||
| Nickname: The Parish of Bridges | |||
| Country |  Portugal |
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| Region |  Madeira |
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| Island | Madeira | ||
| Municipality | Santana | ||
| Civil Parish | Moinhos, Longueira, Penha De Águia, Fajã, Lombo de Cima, Lombo de Baixo, Cruzinhas, Fajã Grande, Limoeiro, Fajã da Murta, Lombo Galego, Pico do Lombo Galego, Quebrada, Água De Alto, Ressoca, Corujeira de Cima, Corujeira de Baixo, Fazenda, Diferença, Lombo Lourenço, Igreja, Covas, Pico do Guindaste, Guindaste, Fajã do Mar | ||
| Center | Faial | ||
| - coordinates | 32°46′56″N 16°51′22″W / 32.78222°N 16.85611°W | ||
| Highest point | |||
| - elevation | 295 m (968 ft) | ||
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean | ||
| - location | Sea Level | ||
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||
| Area | 22.6 km2 (9 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 1,961 (2001) | ||
| Density | 86.8 / km2 (225 / sq mi) | ||
| Founded | 20 February 1550 | ||
| Civil Parish | Executive & Committee | ||
| President/Mayor | Raul Duarte (PSD) | ||
| Timezone | WET (UTC+1) | ||
| - summer (DST) | WEST (UTC0) | ||
| Postal Code & Codex | 9230-059 Faial | ||
| Country Code & Fix Line | (+351) 291 XX XX XX | ||
| Denonym | Madeirense; Faialense | ||
| Patron Saint | Nossa Senhora da Natividade | ||
| Parish Offices | Sítio do Lombo Lourenço | ||
| Website: http://www.faial.freguesias.pt | |||
Faial is a civil parish in the Madeiran municipality of Santana located along the northern coast of the island of Madeira. In 2001 its population numbered less than 2000 inhabitants, in an area of 22.6 km² (its density was 86.8/km²), representing the second largest parish in the municipality, but third least populated.
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[edit] History
It was founded on February 20, 1550 by settlers who chose the name Faial, for the common name for the Myrica faya, shrubs that are indigenous to the area, growing within the valleys between the mountains. As later recounted, the settlers:
- "Seeing a site of Faias, where the sea is more gentle, with an ideal panorama, that perfect corner, is the vista of Faial." [1]
For a while Porto da Cruz and São Roque do Faial were part of the parish, but were de-annexed to form their own parishes.
In 1519, a chapel was constructed in this parish to the invocation of Nossa Senhora da Natividade (English: Our Lady of the Nativity), and as legend describes it was built entirely from one cedar, which was transported by water to its site. Ribeiras da Metade e do Faial. The construction of the new temple was begun during the reign of King D. João V of Portugal, during the second half of the 18th Century (1771). In addition, a chapel was dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Penha de França (English: Our Lady of the Rock of France), in Fazenda, around 1680.
In 1960, a fire completely destroyed the original church in Faial, and it was reconstructed in 1966 through the initiative of Father António Pestana Martinho.
[edit] Geography
The parish is located between the municipal of seat of Santana and the parish of São Roque do Faial, 21 kilometres north Funchal the regional capital, while 5 kilometres from Porto da Cruz, 15 kilometres from Machico and 39 kilometres from Porto Moniz; it is connected to these centres by a Regional Roadway network that gives its inhabitants limited access to southern communities.
Faial has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasia, a church and a square (praça).
[edit] Economy
Along with tourism, the community has historically depended on subsistence agriculture and the local fishery to provide an economic engine.
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Manuel Teixeira Velosa & Virgínia Sousa Filipe Velosa2000
- Sources
- Velosa, Manuel Teixeira; Velosa, Virgínia Sousa Filipe, eds (2000). Faial: Memórias de uma Freguesia [Faial: Memories of a Parish]. Funchal, Madeira: Calcamar.
