Agualva (Praia da Vitória)

Agualva
Civil Parish
Official name: Freguesia da Agualva
Country	Portugal
Autonomous Region	Azores
Island	Terceira
Municipality	Praia da Vitória
Localities	Ladeira de Nossa Senhora, Portela, Outeiro Filipe, Outeiros, Cabouco de Trás, São Joões
River	Ribeira de Agualva
Center	Agualva
- elevation	130 m (427 ft)
- coordinates	38°46′27″N 27°10′22″W / 38.77417°N 27.17278°W / 38.77417; -27.17278Coordinates: 38°46′27″N 27°10′22″W / 38.77417°N 27.17278°W / 38.77417; -27.17278
Highest point	Pico Alto
- location	Biscoito da Ferraria
- elevation	809 m (2,654 ft)
- coordinates	38°45′18″N 27°12′40″W / 38.75500°N 27.21111°W / 38.75500; -27.21111
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Area	38.75 km2 (15 sq mi)
- water	.00 km2 (0 sq mi)
- urban	.70 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population	1,432 (2011)
Density	37/km2 (96/sq mi)
Settlement	fl. 1588
- Parish	29 February 1588
LAU	Junta Freguesia
- location	Rua da Igreja
- coordinates	38°46′21″N 27°10′23″W / 38.77250°N 27.17306°W / 38.77250; -27.17306
President Junta	Noé de Melo Cota (PS)
Timezone	Azores (UTC-1)
- summer (DST)	Azores (UTC0)
Postal Zone	9760-020
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Demonym	Agualvense
Patron Saint	Nossa Senhora da Guadalupe
Location of the parish seat of Agualva on the island of Terceira
Website: www.jf-agualva.pt
Geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)

Agualva is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The population in 2011 was 1,432, in an area of 38.75 km². The parish lies 186 metres above sea level.

Agualva is the largest civil parish on the island. The church of this village, Igreja Paroquial, is dedicated to the Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast dedicated to her is celebrated beginning on the 15th of August each year. There are some mills that have been well preserved, which give Agualva beauty and charm. In this village there are lots of orchards and groves as well as an abundance of water. Here you can find one the tallest mountains on the island, with an altitude of 808 meters at its highest point. Its name is “Pico Alto.”

Along Agualva’s main river there are 48 mills that ground flour for a lot of the island. Agualva, with its abundance of natural water, is the main civil parish that supplies the municipality of Praía da Vitória.

Agualva’s well-irrigated and fertile land allows for large production of produce from its orchards of various fruits. Currently, the main economic activity is agro-livestock, followed by the sawing of wood thanks to the village's large forest, metal mechanics and floriculture.

About 200 years ago, Agualva was little more than a large orchard, with just a few houses. Back then, the produce cultivated in its orchards included chestnuts, walnuts, pears, apples, and oranges. Later on, this agricultural focus has changed, with the fields essentially being used only as pastures for dairy cows, including the cattle of Ramo Grande, which is a breed native to the Azores.

In the past, cattle goats existed in Agualva in large numbers and would destroy and harm the natural vegetation. Because of this, Captain General Francisco António de Araújo e Azevedo forced a reduction of the goat population to a minimum.

Agualva, also known as the land of Ramo Grande, possesses some of the best and flattest lands on the island. In 1643, these lands yielded between 500 and 600 “moios” of wheat as a sort payment to the king of Portugal.

The exact date when the first inhabitants of Agualva settled in the village is unknown. It is known, however, that the settlement began sometime before the year 1588. On the 29th of February in 1588, the village of Agualva along with its parish was set to be built. This is known from a documented charter.

On February 3rd of 1594, João Homem Guadalupe established a hermitage, which would eventually become the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, its name honoring the parish's founder as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe.