Nossa Senhora das Angústias Church

Situated on the southern side of the beautiful Horta town, on the amazing Faial Island, Azores Archipelago, the lovely Nossa Senhora das Angústias Church dates from the 19th century.

Built over the previous Santa Cruz Chapel, that would have been built by the first colonists of the Island, exactly on the same place where the first Mass in the Island was celebrated, after the landing of the Island’s recognizing ship. Hence this Chapel was probably the first temple in the Island.
Due to its degradation, it would have been re-built around 1675. In the beginning of the 19th century the current structure is built, in a Neoclassic style, more spacious and with better conditions to house all the followers.

The Church is characterized by its typical basaltic ashlar, the volcanic material of the Island. The Church was often used as the Island’s Pantheon.
Its interior houses rich panels, Renaissance golden carved wood, mahogany furniture and a great statue collection, with the highlight in a beautiful Image of Our Lady of Angústias, the patron saint of the Island, dated from the 16-17th centuries, a master piece of the Portuguese sculpture with about 1,30 meters high.