Discover Manadas: Church Art, Festive Tradition and Fajã Landscape

Manadas on the island of São Jorge appeals to travellers who want to combine cultural history with distinctive landscapes. The local scenery includes Fajã das Almas, also known as Fajã do Calhau. It lies on the southern side of São Jorge, in the Manadas civil parish and the municipality of Velas. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Manadas will find a destination shaped by religious architecture, historic defences and protected nature.

Fajã das Almas: Landscape and Protected Area

Fajã das Almas is incorporated into the protected area “Área Protegida para Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies da Fajã das Almas”. The protected land area covers approximately 97.1 ha. Roseate terns, common terns and Cory’s shearwaters occur in the area. Fajã das Almas is also considered an important breeding area for Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis). The plant life is also characteristic: the vegetation mentioned includes tree heath (Erica azorica), firetree (Morella faya) and “pau-branco” (Picconia azorica).

For your travel planning, this creates a clear contrast with a purely cultural and historical stay. You can explore the churches and remains of the fortifications or make the Fajã the focus as a natural area with its birdlife and flora. Fajã das Almas also has a bathing area. Porto dos Terreiros is one of the bathing spots on the southern coast of the municipality of Velas and thus complements the scenic side of your stay.

Santa Bárbara and the Historic Fort

A cultural highlight is the Santa Bárbara Church. Its structure was built in 1770. Inside, it features rich Baroque furnishings with tile panels, gilded woodcarvings and religious sculptures. For travellers who appreciate ecclesiastical architecture and art history, this site provides a specific reason to view Manadas as more than just a landscape destination.

The Forte de Sta. Bárbara is located directly beside the church. The complex played an important role in the defence against the French fleet under the command of René Duguay-Trouin. This fleet attacked the town of Velas in 1708. In the ruins of the Forte de Sta. Bárbara, part of the guardhouse, which some authors also refer to as an arsenal, as well as several gun embrasures can be identified. The history of the fort adds a second historical layer to the local scenery alongside the church’s religious furnishings.

Chapel, Festive Tradition and Travel Season

The Santo Cristo Chapel is also connected with the history of Fajã das Almas. It was built in 1876 and burned down on 9 September 1880. The reconstruction was supported by the Baron of Ribeiro; the restored chapel was blessed on 14 January 1882. The religious festival in honour of the patron saint of Santa Bárbara Church takes place on the first weekend of December. If you would like to include this date in your travel plans, you should pay particular attention to your preferred travel period when choosing accommodation in Manadas.

When searching for a suitable holiday apartment, it helps to consider which focus your travel group wants to choose: Baroque church art and the history of the fort, the protected Fajã with its birdlife, or a stay that also includes a bathing area. Choose your accommodation in Manadas according to which of these facets should be at the centre of your trip, without reducing the destination to just one aspect.

Other Places for Orientation

If you would like to compare other destination pages alongside Manadas, here is a compact overview: Queimada, Barreiras, Calheta and Velas.

For the overarching travel overview: San Jorge.