Notes on historical and religious architecture in the volcanic landscape of crater lakes, hot springs and fumaroles on the island of São Miguel (Azores archipelago)

Abstract

San Miguel de las Azores is known as ‘the green island’ because of the lush vegetation that covers its cliffs. Its historical and architectural heritage is evident in its splendidly preserved fortresses, churches and convents. The city of Ponta Delgada and the towns of Furnas and Vila Franca do Campo preserve traditional grey basalt architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The crater calderas are home to various examples of religious architecture. The Furnas caldera has a church built just metres away from impressive post-volcanic features - fumaroles, solfataras, boiling mud and hot springs - which emanate from the very centre of the village. The old church of San Nicolás in Sete Cidades stands inside the caldera, which houses two famous coloured lagoons. Although the crater of the Fogo volcano is uninhabited, at its foot is the so-called Monte Santo, with its distinctive circular chapel, on a viewpoint overlooking a section of the southern coast. On the hill near the old town of Villa Franca do Campo, a series of intersecting Baroque staircases lead to the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace, overlooking the ocean and the submerged crater popularly known as ‘the princess's ring’. The interpenetration of religious architecture with crater calderas, hot springs, fumaroles, solfataras and other post-volcanic phenomena offers unique articulations that are practically unmatched.