Porto do Calhau is a coastal settlement on the coast of the parish of Candelária, in the municipality of Madalena. Its distinctive character comes from the interplay of the harbor, wine growing, and historic paths. If you are considering Calhau as a place to stay, exploring these themes can help you decide whether coastal heritage and wine culture suit your trip. One specific point of reference is the Vinhas da Criação Velha route, PR05PIC: it starts at Porto do Calhau, passes notable traces of work and landscape, and ends at a former manor house in Areia Larga.
A wine route with clear landmarks
Along the PR05PIC, evidence of different uses of the land comes together. Moinho do Frade was used for milling grain and was rebuilt in 2003/2004. At the other end of the route stands the former manor house Solar dos Salemas in Areia Larga. These two landmarks give the route a cultural framework: a mill as a production site and a former manor house as its destination.
The landscape is also part of the route’s character. It lies within the protected landscape area “Área de Paisagem Protegida da Cultura da Vinha – Zona Oeste”. Rough walls of black stone and Lajido soil line the route, contrasting with the vivid green of the vines. There is also a Poço de maré, a tidal well typical of Pico Island, which the route passes. In this way, the PR05PIC connects wine culture with visible traces of the coastal landscape, without suggesting that each element tells the same story.
Harbor, manor houses, and tidal wells
The original coastal settlement of Porto do Calhau included a harbor, several manor houses, and production facilities. The history of the place is therefore not tied to wine growing alone: work at and near the harbor also shaped the settlement. A Poço de maré is located at the upper end of Porto do Calhau’s slipway. One of the Poços de maré stands beside a public road, near a disused distillery, which in turn is next to a manor house. These spatial relationships help explain the historic structures as part of a coastal settlement that developed over time.
The tidal wells are also a distinct feature of the cultural landscape. Their location by the harbor and road differs from the stops on the PR05PIC; the well on the route is described as typical of Pico. Visitors interested in architectural heritage will therefore find several different points of interest in Calhau: a mill, manor houses, production facilities, and wells, each with its own connection to the place.
Wine growing between Pocinho and Porto do Calhau
Traditional wine cellars, long devoted to growing Verdelho, extend from Pocinho to Porto do Calhau. The story of wine culture therefore goes beyond the coastal settlement itself. The Caminho da Costa provides another link between places: it connects Porto do Calhau with the coastal settlements of Pocinho and Mingato. This route is distinct from the PR05PIC, whose own course begins at Porto do Calhau and ends at Solar dos Salemas.
Calhau as a place to stay while you search
When looking for a hotel in Calhau, you can choose where to stay based on your travel interests: the PR05PIC is a clearly defined route featuring a mill, landscape features, and a former manor house; the Verdelho tradition extends beyond the coastal settlement to Pocinho. These are two different perspectives on the same area, not a promise that all the stops can be combined into one outing. If you want to include wine culture and coastal heritage in your travel plans, they offer specific points of reference when choosing your destination and accommodation.
Discover more destinations: São Mateus, Terra do Pao, Baixa, Pontas Negras, Bandeiras, Prainha, Piedade, Madalena
For the broader travel overview: Pico.
