A landscaped forest covering 49 hectares and a parish church more than 150 years old give Faja de Cima two distinct points of interest: botanical diversity at Pinhal da Paz and religious heritage around Igreja Nossa Senhora da Oliveira. Visitors planning a stay around their interests in nature and culture will find specific themes here that can be given different emphasis.
Forest and botanical collections
Pinhal da Paz Recreational Forest Reserve is located in the parish of Fajã de Cima and covers 49 hectares. The landscaped forest lies at an elevation of 240 to 330 metres. Its facilities and collections include a forest information centre and botanical collections of camellias, ferns, palms, and cacti, which are of great botanical value.
Recreational areas and picnic spots also make the forest an appealing place for a break in the greenery. As the operation of these recreational facilities may change, check before your visit whether the recreational areas and picnic spots are currently open for use. This will help you decide whether the plant collections or the recreational areas are your main priority.
Church and religious traditions
Igreja Nossa Senhora da Oliveira is the parish church of Fajã de Cima, is more than 150 years old, and is a place of interest. For travellers wishing to include religious heritage in their explorations, it has a specific significance for the local area as well as a long history. The parish is also characterised as a meeting point of urban and rural ways of life.
The traditions of the Holy Spirit also shape the local religious culture. The Triatros do Espírito Santo preserve the traditions and culture of the great religious festivals of the Holy Spirit in the Azores. The Impérios do Espírito Santo are also among the religious traditions practised in Fajã de Cima. The terms point to different aspects of the same broad religious theme: traditions and festival culture on the one hand, and religious customs as practised on the other.
Ecclesiastical and rural history
One specific historical milestone is 13 July 1743: on this day, Fajã de Cima was recognised as a distinct ecclesiastical and geographical division. The rural character of the parish is reflected in another historical perspective. Its activities included livestock farming and the cultivation of maize, sugar beet, and tobacco. Together with its urban way of life, this rural past is part of the characteristic picture of the area.
Another cultural date is 27 April 2025. On that day, the traditional Festival das Azáleas was held at Pinhal da Paz; it was organised by Rancho Folclórico Santa Cecília da Fajã de Cima. If you are planning to travel for the festival, check the dates for your travel year.
Discover more destinations: Ribeira Seca, Feteiras, Porto Formoso, Capelas, Lomba Da Maia, Ribeira Cha, Lagoa, Villa Franca Do Campo.
See the main travel overview: S.Miguel.
