Ponta Delgada - Azores

Today is Azores postcards day!! I started with the map of Faial and now I've views from Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island. 

Two cards show exactly the same place, Gonçalo Velho Cabral Square,  in ponta Delgada, where the "Portas da Cidade" - City's Gates, are located. The areal views of the Square where sent by Paula, a former penpal, Zé, and Cristina sent the card with the City's gates.

 

©  Maurício de Abreu

  Where once there was the ocean now there is land: the current square and seaside avenue were built in the late 1940s.

 

Its name derives from a homage of the Town Hall of Ponta Delgada to the first Donatary Captain of the Islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria. 

The square floor is typically paved with dark basalt stones from the region and elegant bright marble brought from mainland.

The city's gates in Ponta Delgada are one of the city's architectural landmarks. 

Located nowadays in the city centre, in Gonçalo Velho Cabral Square, the gates were built in 1783 near an old dock in the east side of the city, having been transferred to this location in 1952. 

Classified in 1953 as National Trust Building, they're characterised by their three perfect round arches, boasting in the middle arch the Royal and city’s coat of arms.