Andreia Luis
Data: 2010-10-28 até 2010-11-03
Local: Teatro Micaelense - Ponta Delgada
Sometime between 1427 and 1431, the Portuguese navigators discovered the island of São Miguel, right after the island of Santa Maria.
The initial settlements, dating from 1444 with the arrival of Gonçalo Velho Cabral, were made by people who came from the Portuguese regions of Estremadura, Algarve and Alentejo. Later, other communities made up of Moors, Jews and foreigners, namely French, also settled here.
The fertile soils and the geographical location, between Europe and America, quickly transformed the island into a commercial location.
The economic growth was sustained by the production and the export of corn, sugar cane and roccella lichen,a dye plant from which a colour was extracted and applied on the textiles being produced in the far away Flanders.Then, Ponta Delgada started to play the most important role and became the capital in 1546. In 1640, the commercial development was given a new life by its connection with Brazil.
Throughout the 18th century, the export of oranges, mainly to Great Britain, became the main source of wealth.
The introduction of new cultures – pineapple, tea, tobacco – contributed to the economic . The economy of the island kept growing during the 20th century given the expansion of the fishing industry, agriculture and cattle breeding.
birds in the Museu Carlos Machado collection
The Azores archipelago has become a more popular destination for European birdwatchers in recent years.
