THE AZORES 



523 



Photograph from A. T. Haeberle 

 THE TYPICAL THICK- WAPLED, THATCH-ROOFED COUNTRY HOUSE OP THE AZORpAN 

 PEASANT : NOTE THE CORN STACK TO THp PpPT 



These peasants live in a healthful, mid-ocean climate and lead simple lives among their hills 



and rugged mountains. 



example of this class of architecture in 

 St. Michaels is the old palace of Santa 

 Catharina. 



Back of the houses are flower gardens 

 surrounded by high walls. These walls, 

 sometimes 15 feet high, are found every- 

 where on the island, often inclosing the 

 roads for a long distance. Some writers 

 have attributed these walls to the neces- 

 sity for fortification against foreign in- 

 vaders in the early days of the island, 

 but in reality they were built to protect 

 the orange groves from the wind. Next 

 to the walls, Faya, or beech trees, were 

 planted as a further shelter. Like the 

 houses, these walls are made of lava 

 stones, skilfully piled on top of each 

 other and the crevices filled with small 

 pieces. 



THP, ROMANTIC STORY OP THp CHURCH 

 OP HOPE 



Many of the gardens have high stone 

 towers that command a view of the sea 

 and surrounding country. 



There are several historical churches 

 and convents in Ponta Delgada, of which 

 the Church of the "Colegio" and the 

 Church and Convent of "Esperanga" are 

 of greatest interest. The former "was 

 built by the Jesuits in 1625. When, in 

 1760, the Jesuits were expelled from the 

 Azores during the reign of Don Jose, 

 this church and the adjoining property 

 were sold at public auction. In this way 

 they came into the possession of one of 

 the principal families of St. Michaels. 

 Although a private church, it is open to 

 public worship. The architecture is that 

 of the Jesuit churches of the fifteenth 

 and sixteenth centuries. The Colegio 

 Church is frequently visited by tourists 

 because of the elaborate wood carving of 

 the interior. 



But the church that holds the foremost 

 place in the hearts of pious Azoreans is 

 "Esperanca," or Church of Hope. It is 

 the abode of their most devoutly wor- 

 shiped image, "Santo Christo," the origin 

 of which dates back to the founding of 



