The parish of Mosteiro, located in the municipality of Lajes das Flores, is one of the nine parishes on Flores Island, in the Azores archipelago. With an area of approximately 20.4 km², this rural locality preserves the charm of a traditional island community, marked by its closeness to the Atlantic Ocean and the exuberance of volcanic nature. The rugged terrain, with deep ravines and imposing cliffs, contrasts with the coastal plains and fertile fajãs – such as the famous Fajã Grande – supporting an economy based on subsistence agriculture, livestock farming, and growing ecotourism.
The cultural heritage reflects the legacy of the Flemish and Portuguese settlers who arrived in the 15th century. The Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1846 as a chapel on the initiative of António de Freitas, elevated to parish status in 1850 by decree of D. Maria II, and expanded in the early 20th century, is the religious heart of the parish.
Every year, on the penultimate Sunday of August, the Feast of the Holy Trinity brings the community together in a procession.
Since 2009, Flores Island has been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, standing out for its endemic vegetation and the purity of its ecosystems. It is in this setting of silence and deep green that one of the island’s greatest natural treasures is hidden: Caldeira do Mosteiro. With over 500 metres of depth and nearly vertical walls covered in lush vegetation, this impressive volcanic depression is a natural amphitheatre where time seems to have stopped. It shelters crystal-clear streams, unique fauna and flora, and an atmosphere of absolute tranquillity – the perfect place for the Calmos project to be born and bring life back to a location abandoned since 1992.
Here in Mosteiro parish, nature and memory walk hand in hand, inviting visitors to slow down, breathe, and become part of something greater.
