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GPS 38.65730878370097, -27.224074348874037

The Solar da Madre de Deus is located in MadreDeus, in Alto das Covas, parish of Sé, municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira island, Autonomous Region of the Azores, in Portugal.

It is an example of a manor house from the 17th century, typical of the highlands of Portuguese overseas cities. It consists of a mixture of an urban residence and the head of a large rural property that extended to the north of the manor. It is currently used as the official residence of the Representative of the Republic in the archipelago.

Solar da Madre de Deus has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1980.

History

It was erected by order of the then Morgado and Captain-General of Angra, João de Bettencourt de Vasconcelos, it is believed that in the second quarter of the 17th century, taking advantage of a small house whose façade faced east, from which the wall that separates the current dining room in the main body of the building.

João de Bettencourt de Vasconcelos, together with his brother-in-law, Captain-General Francisco de Ornelas da Câmara, presided over the War Council that was constituted in Angra to coordinate the siege of the Fortress of São João Baptista (1641-1642), being lawful It can be assumed that the command of operations was carried out from this house, next to which one of the several trenches was opened to defend the besiegers.

The hermitage of the manor is dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Madre de Deus (see Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Madre de Deus), having been erected in 1727 on the initiative of Vital de Bettencourt de Vasconcelos, great-grandson of Captain-General João de Bettencourt. The following year, on June 15, the then Bishop of the Diocese of Angra, D. Manuel Alvares da Costa, issued the permit to begin the cult, as it had "the necessary vestments, a bell tower and a door to the street". This last detail means that the chapel had the status of public, that is, its door should always be open to anyone who wanted to attend the services.

The old access gate to the courtyard, the fountain and the beautiful cobblestone on the ramp at the entrance to the house bear dates relating to works or alterations carried out by the former masters of the house. Above the gate stands the stone coat of arms of the Bettencourt family.

The 1980 earthquake caused serious damage to the structure of the building, which required extensive consolidation and restoration work. Thus, the property was acquired from the family by the State, with a view to its restoration and requalification as the Cabinet of the Minister of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, a role it currently holds.

The manor house is classified as a Property of Public Interest by Resolution n.º 41/80, of June 11, classification consumed by inclusion in the classified set of the Central Zone of the City of Angra do Heroísmo.

The equestrian art of Terceira had one of its last redoubts in this manor, with St. John's cavalry leaving its courtyard and forming in its ring some of the famous amateurs of the bullfighting on horseback from Terceira.

Gallery