For many years, the washerwomen of São Miguel were part of everyday life on the island, playing an essential role in the lives of local communities. Along streams, ponds, and public fountains, these women gathered to wash clothes by hand, a demanding task, but one laden with social and cultural significance.
Work began early, with clothes carried in baskets on their heads or in their laps. Between the cold water and physical effort, the washerwomen turned their work into a space for sharing: they exchanged stories, sang popular songs, and kept traditions passed down from generation to generation alive.
More than just a job, being a washerwoman was a symbol of resilience, unity, and dedication to the family. Today, although this practice is no longer part of everyday life, the memory of the washerwomen remains alive in the identity of São Miguel, remembered as a testimony to the strength and simplicity of life in the past.
When visiting São Miguel, it is worth looking at the rivers and old washing tanks as places of history, where much of the island’s popular culture was built.
At Quinta da Queiro, we value these memories that are part of the Azorean soul and help to better understand the authenticity of this territory.
Simple stories that have left deep marks.
Shrouded in mystery and beauty, the Legend of the Sete Cidades is one of the most emblematic stories of the Azores, passed down through generations and deeply connected to the unique landscape of this place. Legend has it that, in a distant time, a blue-eyed princess and a green-eyed shepherd lived in the Sete Cidades. […]
Read more