View source for Sete Cidades (Ponta Delgada)

{{for|the national park in Brazil|Sete Cidades National Park}}
{{Infobox Portuguese subdivision
| type                    = parish
| name                    = Sete Cidades
| image_skyline           = Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, povoado das Sete Cidades, ilha de São Miguel, Açores.JPG
| image_caption           = The built-up settlement of Sete Cidades on the western margin of the ''Blue Lake''
| image_flag              = 
| image_shield            = 
| region                  = Azores
| island                  = [[São Miguel Island|São Miguel]]
| municipality            = [[Ponta Delgada]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|37|51|42|N|25|47|38|W|region:PT-20_dim:20000|display=inline,title}}
| area_total_km2          = 19.19
| elevation_m             = 264
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_total        = 793
| postal_code             = 9555-199
| area_code               = 292
| patron                  = [[Saint Nicholas|São Nicolau]]
| website                 = 
}}
[[File:Zona de Paisagem Protegida das Sete Cidades - 2017-04-23.jpg|thumb|280 px| Sete Cidades Protected Landscape Area]]
'''Sete Cidades''' is a civil [[parish]] in the center of the [[municipality]] of [[Ponta Delgada]], that is likewise located in the center of a massive volcanic crater {{Convert | 3 | mi | 0 | spell = in | order = flip}} across, also referred to as Sete Cidades. The population in 2011 was 793,<ref>[http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xlang=en&xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0005889&contexto=pi&selTab=tab0 Instituto Nacional de Estatística]</ref> in an area of 19.19&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/nuts_nomenclature/documents/PT-LAU.xls Eurostat]</ref> It is one of the smallest parishes of Ponta Delgada by population, although the largest in area. It contains the localities Cerrado da Ladeira, Cerrado das Freiras and Sete Cidades.

==History==
{{main|Lagoa das Sete Cidades#Legend}}

===Latin origins===
The region received its geographic [[nomenclature]] from the [[Latin]] ''Insula Septem Civitatum'', which means "Island of the Seven Tribes" or "Island of the Seven Peoples" (Portuguese: ''Ilha das Sete Tribos'' or ''Ilha dos Sete Povos''), but became a historical reference as the "Island of the Seven Cities". This comes from classical Latin, probably incorporated into the older traditions of Mediterranean peoples, through the navigators of European antiquity, or the [[Phoenicians]]. In Latin, ''civitas'' does not signify ''city'', but rather a collectivity of citizens of a determined community.

The first [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian]] document to refer to Sete Cidades was a Latin chronicle from the city of Porto-Cale (the modern city of [[Porto]]), written in 750 A.D. by a Christian cleric. During this era, the Iberian Kingdom of the Visigoths was in the process of collapse, under pressure from Muslim invasions (which began in 711 A.D.).<ref>Thomas Suárez, 1991, p. 43</ref> The Visigoth archbishop fled to Porto-Cale, fearing the assault of the Muslim forces, where he deliberated an escape to the lands in the Western Sea, which sailors insisted existed. In 734, the archbishop, accompanied by six other bishops, their prelates and approximately 5000 faithful, sailed away in a fleet of twenty ships.<ref>George E. Buker, 1992, p.155</ref> The chronicle indicated that the fleet arrived at their destination, burned their ships and established seven Christian communities under the reign of the seven religious leaders. Although many prepared to follow, in truth, the archbishop (if he existed) was never heard from again, nor was the route to the mythical lands established.

Although there is no proof that the "island of Seven Cities" actually existed, the belief of their existence, some tentative expeditions and brief unconfirmed visual sightings of Atlantic islands, fostered legends during the European [[Middle Ages]]. Consequently, many of the Medieval maps and charts that showed the Ocean Sea (the [[Atlantic Ocean]]) identified an island (or islands) represented in different positions or forms. The island of Brasil and/or Antillia (from the Brendan context) and the island of Sete Cidades, were usual geographic references that persisted in the proto-geography of the Atlantic.

With the advent of the Age of Discovery, the visual references and number of voyages of discovery multiplied. One of the more consistent maps presented to King [[Afonso V of Portugal]] was from the Azorean, Fernão Teles (in 1473). This map showed a long coastline, with various islands, bays and rivers which the author declared were part of the fabled land of Sete Cidades. In reality, the map easily follows the northern coast of Brazil, between Maranhão and Ceará, with the Rio Parnaíba delta. The King, himself, was not totally convinced of the discovery, or did not consider Fernão Teles sufficiently creditable, and that the map only represented a reference that required proofs. Unhappy with the outcome, Teles insisted on the validity of Sete Cidades. He consulted a [[Genoa|Genovese]] [[cosmographer]] Paolo del Pozzo Toscanelli (1398–1492), who declared that Antilla and the island of Sete Cidades existed along the margins of the Atlantic. In his famous letter, Toscanelli placed the mythical lands of Sete Cidades near the Azores:

:''"The island of Antillia was discovered by the Portuguese, and now when it is sought it is not found. In this island are people who speak the Spanish tongue, and who in the time of King Roderick are believed to have fled to this island from the barbarians who at the time invaded Spain. Here dwelt an archbishop with six other bishops, each of whom had its own particular city. Wherefore this island is called by many 'seven cities.' These people live most piously in the full enjoyment of all the riches of this time."''

In 1476, the Teles's petition of royal authentication was accepted, but no expeditions were sent by the donatario.

Of the better documented expeditions, the [[Flemish people|Fleming]] Ferdinand van Olm (also known in Azorean history as Fernando de Ulmo or Fernão Dulmo) captained an expedition to rediscover the lost kingdoms of Sete Cidades. Ironically, Fernando de Ulmo was then married to one of the daughters of Fernão Teles and lived on one of the islands of the Azores when, in 1486, he received authorization from King João II of Portugal to begin his expedition. In partnership with [[João Afonso do Estreito|Afonso do Estreito]], a [[Madeira|Madeirense]], he organized his voyage, with the co-financing of the Royal Court, in order to conquer and subjugate the islands. Unfortunately, Fernão Dulmo did not have better luck, but ultimately, around the 17th Century, did organize an expedition to the northwest of Terceira, where an unknown island had been spotted.<ref>These mystical lands have been attributed to weather oddities primarily, when fog banks and clouds have been mistaken for other islands, such as the local myths about islands around the feast day of Saint John (June 24).</ref>

===Settlement===
The colonization of Sete Cidades developed after the property owner, José Bettencourt, who was the principal benefactor of the lands within the crater, made tracts available for settlement. These lands were rented to farmers and other colleagues, who then cultivated the limited tracts and paid monthly stipends for their use. For a long time, this limited the number of inhabitants living within the caldera.

==Geography==

===Physical geography===
{{main|Sete Cidades Massif}}
[[File:Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, Lagoa das Sete Cidades, ilha de São Miguel, Açores.JPG|235px|thumb|The setting of the village of Sete Cidades, as seen from the Boca do Inferno Belvedere, showing the crater lake ''Lagoa Azul'' and the tuff cone ''Lagoa do Santiago'']]
[[File:Sao Miguel - Sete Citades 05.JPG|thumb|235px|Caldeira Seca, one of the seven polygenetic cones formed during the 36,000 years of activity within the caldera]]
The [[Sete Cidades Massif|Sete Cidades volcano]] is situated on the extreme western portion of the island of São Miguel occupying an area of approximately {{convert|110|km2|mi2}} and refers to a [[Polygenetic volcanic field|polygenetic]] [[volcano]] (''Sete Cidades Massif'') and [[caldera]].<ref name="Moore90">Robert B. Moore (1990), p.603</ref> Its subaerial volume, of about {{convert|70|km3|mi3}}, has grown at an estimated rate of {{convert|0.02|-|0.03|km3|mi3}} per century, beginning more than 210,000 years ago.<ref name=Moore90/> Presently, the interior of the structure is occupied by diverse volcanic structures and four lakes. It is almost circular caldera ({{convert|5|km|mi}} in diameter and up to {{convert|400|m|ft}} high walls) formed through three phases of eruptions.<ref name=Moore90/> The last intra-calderan eruption occurred approximately 500 years A.D., resulting in the creation of the ''Caldeira Seca'' cone. At the base of the caldera, there exist six [[Holocene]] era [[pyroclastic cone]]s. Further, a large group of [[pleistocene]] post-caldera [[trachytic]] [[lava dome]]s, lava flows, and pyroclastic flow deposits have been discovered on the northwestern flanks of the massif.

The two crater lakes ({{langx|pt|Lagoas das Sete Cidades}}), {{convert|500|m|ft}} within the crater, are referred to by the color of the waters: blue, reflecting the sky ({{langx|pt|Lagoa Azul}}) and green, reflecting the ground ({{langx|pt|Lagoa Verde}}). According to legend, the differently colored lakes were created when a princess and her lover, a young shepherd, had to part from each other. The tears they shed at their farewell became the two lakes, with the water colored like their eyes.

===Human geography===
The urbanized portion of the parish, the village of Sete Cidades, is located in the southwest portion of the crater within the ''Cumierias da Bretanha'' and extends from the ''Blue Lake'' north to south.  Farmland, mostly pastures, are located around the village,  and confined to the portions south of the ''Blue Lake''. The remainder of the crater is forested, although the southeastern portion also has some grasslands. A bridge at the junction of the two lakes provides the most direct road connection to Ponta Delgada. In the western end of the crater, in an area of open parklands, a 1.2&nbsp;km tunnel containing water pipes and a footpath links the crater to the village of [[Mosteiros (Ponta Delgada)|Mosteiros]].

==Architecture==
[[File:Sete Cidades (Caldeira) - Kirche.JPG|thumb|180px|Front façade and alleyway to the Church of Saint Nicholas]]
The Church of Saint Nicholas is a Neo-Gothic church is oriented around a single-nave, rectangular plan consisting of a sacristy, chancel and annexes, with differentiated covering and illuminated by lateral Gothic windows. The main [[façade]] includes a single, central bell tower, with doorway and windows (also Gothic). The interior includes baptistery, triumphal arch and simple altar.<ref name="SIPA">{{citation|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=33609 |title=Igreja Paroquial de Sete Cidades/Igreja de São Nicolau (IPA.00009537/PT072103200039) |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico|location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=pt|first1=Ana |last1=Fernandes |first2=Bruna |last2=Valério |first3=Paula |last3=Figueiredo |year=2013 |accessdate=26 December 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of volcanoes in Azores]]

== References ==
;Notes
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Sources
* {{cite book | last1 = Scarth | first1 = Alwyn | author2 = Tanguy, Jean-Claude | title = Volcanoes of Europe | publisher = [[Oxford University Press]] | year = 2001 | isbn = 0-19-521754-3 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/volcanoesofeurop00alwy/page/243 243] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/volcanoesofeurop00alwy/page/243 }}
* {{cite gvp|vn=382080|name=Sete Cidades}}
* {{cite journal|title=The last 5000 years of activity at Sete Cidades volcano (São Miguel Island, Azores): Implications for hazard assessment|first1=Gabriela|last1=Queiroz|first2=J.M.|last2=Pachecoa|first3=João L.|last3=Gaspar|first4=W.P.|last4=Aspinall|first5=J.E.|last5=Guest|first6=Teresa|last6=Ferreira|journal=Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research|year=2008 |volume=178|issue=3|pages=562–573|doi=10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.03.001 |bibcode=2008JVGR..178..562Q }}
* {{cite journal|title=The Search for the Seven Cities and Early American Exploration|first=George E.|last=Buker|journal=The Florida Historical Quarterly|volume=71|issue=2|date=October 1992|pages=155–168|jstor=30150358}}
* {{cite book|title=Shedding the veil: mapping the European discovery of America and the world|first=Thomas|last=Suárez|publisher=World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.|location=Singapore|year=1991|isbn=981-02-0869-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=elBFoQD-_W0C&q=Shedding+the+veil:+mapping+the+European+discovery+of+America+and+the+world.}}
* {{citation |first=Robert B. |last=Moore |contribution=Volcanic geology and eruption frequency, São Miguel, Azores |title=Bulletin of Volcanology |publisher=Springer-Verlag |location=Berlin, Germany |year=1990 |issue=52 |pages=602–614}}

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[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Portugal]]
[[Category:Mountains of Portugal]]
[[Category:Volcanic crater lakes]]
[[Category:Calderas of Portugal]]
[[Category:Parishes of Ponta Delgada]]