As the island’s population grew, on 10 November 1542, king João III created a new municipality of São Roque do Pico, which they called Vila Nova de S. Roque.
The first years of its existence passed very peacefully, its inhabitants dedicated to the cultivation and export of wheat. This way of life, somewhat independent of history, was interrupted by the volcanic eruptions, which since the 16th century have changed the landscape of the municipality, originating curious extensions of black lava, which the very religious population called Mysteries.
São Roque do Pico is a village with around 500 years of history. Its port, in the Quay of Pico, was entirely linked to the whaling activity. Today, the local economy is mainly based on cattle rearing, meat, milk and dairy products, all of which are exported from the commercial port of S. Roque, built in the seventies, which is also the gateway of sea tourism, mainly from the Islands of the Triangle and Terceira Island.
Sea transports have their hands full during the municipality feasts, Cais Agosto, which take place in August. They are known and renowned for the magnificent concerts for all age groups, in particular for the youth.
Contrary to tradition, the feast of Our Lady of Deliverance, the patron saint of sailors, has been celebrated on the same date as the municipality festivities.
The capital of the municipality of São Roque is a village with the same name. It includes the parish of Matriz de São Roque, where on 16 August people celebrate the feast of the patron saint, St. Roch, which is also a municipal bank holiday.
The municipality also includes the parishes of Santa Luzia, Santo António, Prainha and Santo Amaro.
The parish church, dedicated to St. Roch, was edified in 1776 on top of an older temple. Inside one may admire the altars overlaid with gold, the religious, 16th to 18th century images, a shelf in jacaranda wood and ivory, and a silver chandelier offered by king D.João V (18th century). The church and convent of St.Francis of Alcântara date from the 18th century. In baroque style, the church displays an interesting façade with a tower bell and archs. Inside we find valuable wood carvings overlaid with gold and statues of saints. Like the convent in Lajes, this convent housed all public departments, as well as local education. Here too a private day-school was accommodated, until public education was created and installed in specific facilities.
One of the main activities of this community was whaling, which was the source of a meagre income for many families. Whalers transported oil to Faial and exchanged it for maize to feed their families. The day in which the whaling profits were divided was much anticipated, as someone who waits for God.
The Whaling Museum is installed inside an old whaler plant. On display in the museum we see the tools and equipment used in processing these mammals. In this building, photos and other works are also put on display, culturally enriching the municipality/island.
Lagoa do Capitão lake, on the inner plateau, is a place of enormous beauty, covered in the Island’s endemic flora. Lagoa do Caiado lake, located on the Island’s central plateau, is one of a set of lakes surrounded by primitive vegetation.
To conclude, one cannot leave the Island without first visiting Mistério da Prainha (Nature Reserve), Baía das Canas in Prainha and the terrace of Terra Alta in Santo Amaro, from where one can see the south coast of the neighbouring island of São Jorge. Here visitors rest their eyes on the imense sea and enjoy the view of the green fields.
This municipality is the birth-place of renowed figures from all fields, namely Machado Serpa, the politician Manuel José da Silva, the distinguished Professor Gabriel Simas and Coronel Linhares de Lima.
The illustrious doctors Dr. José Prudêncio Teles and Dr. Tibério Ávila Brasil, two figures to whom the people of Pico owe a lot, practised here.
This was the place that Almeida Firmino chose to carry out his profession, get married and live until his death.
Town Hall of São Roque
+351 292 648 700
http://www.cmsrp.pt
'A Buraca '
+351 292 642 583 
