Vila do Porto History Facts and Timeline

(Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal)

Vila do Porto is the principle town on the Portuguese island of Santa Maria, part of the Azores archipelago. The dry warm climate has helped the island evolve into one of Portugal's many travel destinations, with unique natural chimneys and some lovely white beaches on offer.

There is also a heavy religious presence on Santa Maria, which infuses the history of Vila do Porto and can be seen in the town's dozens of churches, convents and monasteries. Though little in the way of other historical highlights awaits visitors in Vila do Porto, its nature and immense tranquility more than make up for that.

The Island of Santa Maria

While the Mediterranean Sea had been completely explored in antiquity, no-one knew much about the Atlantic on the other coast of Portugal. The first unofficial mention of island sightings in the Atlantic comes from Portuguese sailors exploring for King Denis (reign: 1279 to 1325) and King Afonso IV (reign: 1325 to 1357).


It wasn't until 1427 that the Portuguese navigator Diogo de Silves discovered an island he christened Santa Maria, since the crew was celebrating the Feast Day of Saint Mary when the land was sighted.

Settling the Azores

By tradition, the new territory was awarded to a Portuguese nobleman, who was in charge of overseeing the island in the name of the crown. This lucky nobleman was Goncalo Velho Cabral of the House of Henry the Navigator. He was a commanding officer in the Order of Christ, arriving on Santa Maria in the year of 1432. At the time, the island was known as the Island of the Wolves, and was the first seat of authority over the entire Azores archipelago.

The First Colony

The settlement of Santa Maria began in earnest in 1439 along the northern coast. Anjos was the first village in that area, followed roughly a decade later by Fernao de Quental on the south-western coast of the island. Fernao de Quental had an excellent protected bay ideal for mooring ships. It was this settlement that marked the beginnings of the history of Vila do Porto (town of the port), which was eventually incorporated into its own town in 1470.

Vila do Porto Grows

The first lighthouse to be built in the Azores was erected at Vila do Porto and was an important act in the history of the town. However, Vila do Porto never really took off in terms of favourability when compared to other islands in the Azores. It was considered isolated, difficult to reach by ship and hard to defend. As a result, the town and the rest of Santa Maria evolved into a hideaway for religious people seeking peace and sanctuary.

Pesky Pirates

Like the rest of the Azores, Santa Maria was often targeted by pirates. In one of the more memorable incidents, a group of some 40 privateers disembarked at Vila do Porto in 1480.

The residents, tired of pirate pillaging, attacked the invaders by throwing rocks at them from the Calhau da Roupa cliffs above the harbour. Such was the hatred of visitors who showed up at Vila do Porto that even when Christopher Columbus made a call in 1493, after returning from discovering the New World, he was treated as an outcast. Locals arrested several of his crew, who were eventually released after lengthy negotiations.

Needless to say, throughout its early history, Vila do Porto never evolved into a popular tourist destination. Not until more recent times did holiday seekers venture in larger numbers to its shores, although it still remains one of Portugal's more subdued travel destinations.