Agriculture provided, indirectly, but in abundance, raw material for a variety of artifacts, some of a functional nature, such as mats. Parallel to basketry, this artisanal production initially played a complementary role to agriculture and adapted itself to domestic needs. Corn leaf, wheat straw, bulrush, reed or even dragon tree leaf doormats represent a […]
The cult of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, of great devotion and attraction, is also the reason for the creation of the “Registo”, a beautiful piece in homage to the patron. It was the monastic work of the Sanctuary nuns, competent in many of the manual arts. Nowadays it´s a piece of interest for many […]
Authentic miniature Christmas cribs, perpetuate the birth of Christ throughout the year. The central theme is the cave that houses the Holy Family, all the other elements of biblical or everyday scenes are organized around it, through small figures of painted pottery, fragments of rock, moss, plants, flowers and tiny sea shells . Within domes […]
From the white matter of the core of fig branches, the artisan with patience and a steady hand, creates beautiful and delicate figurines typical of the Azores. The oldest works of Euclides Rosa, are exposed at the Museum of Horta. Nowadays, the pieces made of the fig tree kernel include floral motifs, mills or sailing […]
The diversity of fish in the sea of the Azores, influenced the artistic imagination of the Azorean artisan. The scales are cleaned in several waters and transformed into delicate petals or leaves that, later are shaped with scissors, with great skill, composing flower clusters. The more traditional works are mainly flowers, of the most varied […]
Vegetable fibers formed, such as wood, one of the first natural resources within reach of the inhabitants of the Archipelago of the Azores. They were easily obtained from the reed, bamboo cane, bulrush, wicker and dragon tree. The agriculture indirectly provided other plant matter such as corn leaves and wheat straw. Among the varied objects […]
The “Alfenim” is a sweet made with sugar, water and vinegar, of an ancient oriental recipe and with a long history. It reached the Iberian Peninsula by the hands of the Arabs who called it “al-fenid” that means that which is white, pure. The Spaniards took it to Mexico and the Portuguese to Brazil. From […]
“Bolos Lêvedos” are small cylindrical cakes, slightly sweetened, with a porous mass and slightly browned crust, baked on the “sertã” (frying pan) or in a metal sheet, sprinkled with flour. It is a traditional specialty of “Furnas Valley”, with a great economic impact associated to the opening of the Hotel Terra Nostra, in 1935, becoming […]
From an historical and geographical point of view, the production of “Biscoitos de Orelha” is confined to Santa Maria, making it a reference product of the “Mariense” cuisine. This biscuit was an usual presence in “Marienses” homes, on festive occasions, such as in the pig slaughter, weddings, festivities of the Holy Spirit and Christmas, occasion […]
A regional sweet from the island of São Jorge, is presented as small ring-shaped cookie with host dough, struck across the top, leaving a glimpse of brownish filling. Previously, the “espécies” were named “bichos doces” (sweet animals), in which the filling was made with homemade bread, roasted and ground in “atafonas” (a mill moved by […]