Hi blam! What I am trying to say is, that Sao Miguel aqueduct would harldy have been built by the Portugese after their settlement of the island in the 15 century, would it?
All I could ever find on that aqueduct is that it is ‘very ancient’ but not a word about when it was constructed, nor by whom.
The region of San Miguel was the cradle of colonization Biguaçu, whose official launch was in 1748 with the arrival of the first wave of Azorean immigrants. Due to the opening and paving of the BR 101 region was far from lost, destroyed or removed, so that the historic buildings, few remained. The remaining however, make a single copy in the state, such as:
OLD AQUEDUCT OF SAN MIGUEL
Or the rest of the aqueduct used to supply drinking water from boats and ships in the region, and on their way to or returning from the region of Silver (Pref.Mun.deBiguaçu).
Translated from Portuguese.
www.Trails-Azores.com PR25SMI - Fonte do Sapateiro
This small linear trail begins in the parish of Ginetes, opposite the Parish Church of São Sebastião (built between 1603 and 1605, to replace an earlier church), and is comprised mainly of footpaths all the way to the crater ridge in Sete Cidades. Begin the trail by walking through the village of Ginetes. The path then follows a watercourse, at times traversing the bed of the stream. On the way one can see various aspects of rural life, such as small family orchards and animals grazing. The main point of interest on this trail is the Sapateiro Spring, a spring of clear water that used to supply the local population. To reach the spring, you have tol go under the old aqueduct, which dates from 1778, and which used to channel the water. Stone water troughs once used for washing clothes can also be seen here. The trail then climbs up to a point where you can enjoy a view of the entire coastline south of Ginetes, including the hill which gave its name to the parish (Ginetes means “thoroughbred horses”). The historian Gaspar Frutuoso (1522-1591) believed the name was given to the parish because it was “sheltered from the winds on the lower, coastal side, by the Ginetes Peak, which was so named because it was shaped like a saddle in the middle, and also because (as others say) small, thoroughbred horses were raised there, on the upper side. The trail continues as far as the ridge of the crater of Sete Cidades via a dirt track. When you reach the top, you come to Trail PR-7-SMI and can either turn right and go to the Vista do Rei vantage point or turn left and walk to the parish of Sete Cidades (whichever way you choose, it will take about 1 hour to complete this 4 kilometre trail).