Calhau – Coastal Culture and Wine Culture on Pico

The coastal settlement of Porto do Calhau is located on the coast of the parish of Candelária in the municipality of Madalena. For travellers who want to combine coastal landscapes, wine culture, and historical traces, Calhau offers a clear thematic introduction to Pico. Black stone walls, lajido ground, vineyards, manor houses, and Poços de maré represent a landscape where nature and human use are closely visible side by side.

Through Vineyards and the Landscape of Wine Culture

A particularly vivid way to explore the area is via the Vinhas da Criação Velha PR05PIC route. It begins at Porto do Calhau and also lies within the protected landscape area “Área de Paisagem Protegida da Cultura da Vinha – Zona Oeste” dedicated to wine culture. Along the route, rugged black stone walls and the lajido ground create a striking contrast with the deep green of the vineyards. Anyone who values a travel experience shaped by winegrowing and the coast when choosing a holiday apartment will find a clear focus here for their planning.

The route passes the Moinho do Frade. The mill was rebuilt in 2003/2004 and was used to grind grain. At the other end, the route finishes at the former manor house “Solar dos Salemas” in the village of Areia Larga. This sequence brings together different traces of the cultural landscape without requiring you to commit to a single thematic focus: mill use, winegrowing, and historic architecture belong to the same travel concept, while remaining recognisable as separate discoveries.

Coastal Culture between the Harbour, Manor Houses, and Tidal Pools

The original coastal settlement of Porto do Calhau included several manor houses and production facilities beside a harbour. The Poços de maré do Calhau also give the coast a distinctive historical character. The second Poços de maré do Calhau is located at the upper end of the slipway at Porto do Calhau. One of the Poços de maré lies beside a public road, near a ruined distillery, which in turn stands next to a manor house. For your trip planning, this means that in Calhau, coastal connections can be explored not only through the landscape but also through former uses and architectural traces.

Winegrowing and Paths as Travel Considerations

Traditional wine cellars that have long been dedicated to growing Verdelho extend from Pocinho to Porto do Calhau. The Caminho da Costa connects Porto do Calhau with the coastal settlements of Pocinho and Mingato. In addition, the Vinhas da Criação Velha PR05PIC route passes a tidal pool typical of Pico Island. Depending on whether you want to focus on winegrowing, coastal culture, or the connection between the two during your stay, these places can provide different points of emphasis when choosing your accommodation in Calhau.

If you would like to compare travel ideas beyond Calhau, you can find more destinations in this selection: Santo Amaro, Madalena, Prainha, São Roque Do Pico, Sao Joao, Baixa, Ribeiras and Piedade.

For the broader travel overview: Pico.