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The houses of the Vinagreiro

Schedule an encounter with nature

Pontas Negras is located on the south slope of Pico Island, looking over a vast bay between the sea and the mountain side. It is a small settlement with about fifty houses, located two kilometres from the local village (Ribeiras) and ten kilometres from the main town of the county (Lajes do Pico).

Situated in this friendly and hospitable place named Pontas Negras, village of Ribeiras, County of Lajes do Pico, Azores, you will find the Houses of the Vinagreiro, rural holiday cottages with ancient traces that date back to the 19th century.

Built then by my grandfather, who had the nickname “Vinagreiro” (given at the time of his return from the United States of America), the houses adopted his name.

Description of the Development

The houses are of T2 type (with capacity for 3 to 4 people), namely:

Isabel’s House:

One double bedroom, one single bedroom, wc, living room with a sofa bed and television, kitchen equipped with stove, refrigerator, washing machine and other appliances.

This house was for many years my family’s residence, especially the builder, my grandfather Vinagreiro and my parents. It was a shelter after many arduous hours of a hard day’s work as well as meeting point for our meals and family conversations. It was also a stage for many folk dances (chamarritas) in the long cold nights of the winter weekends or in the warm and animated summer evenings.

This house can provide you with an excellent view over the bay of Ribeiras, where the silence of this quiet place will help you rest or refresh your strength and encourage you to enjoy all the natural elements of this beautiful island.

Umbelina’s House:

One double bedroom, one single bedroom, wc, living room with s sofa bed and television, kitchen equipped with stove, refrigerator, washing machine and other appliances.

Built from the renovation of the old house barn, it was the work place, where food (corn, potatoes, etc.), the work animals or agricultural tools were stored It is in this cosy and homely atmosphere that we intend to welcome you and others who visit us.

It is where we provide excellent relaxing and healthy moments, if possible in the company of your beloved ones. We will be waiting for you with friendly welcome greetings and a reception with local products.

Schedule an encounter with nature
 
Set in a typical rural everyday atmosphere, where the trees, the ploughed corn fields, cattle pastures and vineyards of Pico are your neighbours, the houses of the Vinagreiro provide you with excellent moments of comfort and leisure. You will be able to schedule an authentic encounter with nature, where the landscape is divided by the green and blue of the beautiful scenery of the island or the sounds of the animals.

Here on this corner of the island of Pico, land and sea attract your attention through predominantly forest and agricultural areas, or through the existing seaside zones, such as the port of Aguada or the well-known bridges that give the name to this place Pontas Negras, where you can admire the crystal clear waters and magnificent view over the bay of Ribeiras.

This historic village of Ribeiras (where Pontas Negras belongs to), is located 10 kilometres from the main town of Lajes do Pico and 10 kilometres from the village of Piedade. It dates back to 1460, when the first navigators dropped anchor in the deep and quiet waters of the bay and soon also discovered the stormy course of the streams that came down the mountain from the north, striping with foam the virgin territory that stretched gently into the sea.

The first settlers saw that their destiny would be fulfilled between the land and the sea. They drank water from the streams and creeks, after which they would name the village of Ribeiras (stream or creeks in Portuguese). Some built boats and set out once again to sea, initially along the coast, then to deep sea. They would return at the end of the day or night to satisfy the hunger of their children and wives.

This is the heroism of a land that lived and still lives of the sea, wistful, in memory of long-haul yachts, whale hunting and tuna fishing.

Other settlers ploughed the fields, planted corn, built mills by the streams from where they would drink water as well as their cattle and where woman washed clothes and fabrics they webbed themselves.