PARTNERSHIP

PORTUGAL - Câmara Municipal da Ribeira Grande

https://www.cm-ribeiragrande.pt/

Our history    

According to the chronicler Gaspar Frutuoso, the first settlers to come to the island chose the south coast, moving from east to west, from Povoação to Vila Franca, and only then did they explore the north coast. Given the fertility of the soil and the abundance of water in the area they would name Ribeira Grande, the settlers would have settled on this plain in the central northern part of the island.

New settlers1474

The arrival in 1474 of new settlers from the island of Madeira is thought to have promoted accelerated growth on the island of São Miguel. A quarter of a century later, in 1499, the town of Ponta Delgada was built. Eight years later, in 1507, Ribeira Grande was officially made a town. There are plausible indications, however, that Ribeira Grande may have started to become a de facto town even before it became one by law.

Volcanic Crisis1563

The continued growth, says Frutuoso, was suddenly halted by the serious seismic and volcanic crisis of the summer of 1563, followed by the catastrophic flood of the following winter. Rebuilt immediately afterwards, during the 18th century, the town rejuvenated its built fabric.

Town 19th century

In the twenties of the 19th century, the parishes of Nossa Senhora da Graça and Espírito Santo were suddenly added to the town. The current municipal area was consolidated in the last quarter of the 19th century with the inclusion of Fenais da Ajuda. The third quarter of the 19th century saw a new urban development impetus in the town of Ribeira Grande.

City1981

At the beginning of the second half of the century, unsuccessful attempts were made to elevate Ribeira Grande to the category of city. New urbanisations were created. Finally, the old town, hidden from the sea, now a city, opened up decisively to the sea and tried to catch the future here and now.