The parish was first referred in the chronicles of Gaspar Frutuoso: Monte Alverne later identified that this area was associated with Nossa Senhora da Purificação, in the place of Espírito Santo. In the area of Malbusca, during the early settlement of the region, the colonists collected the fungus Roccella tinctoria which was exported to Flanders to produce woad, in an artisanal and risky process:
Geography
The parish borders the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, and it is the largest parish by area covering an expanse of hills, mounts and vegetation-rich escarpments. It is the third most populated in the municipality of Vila do Porto, but its rural communities are very dispersed. Until recently most communities were limited to dirt-road paths and trails to connect them. It is now served by the regional road network, circling the island, and most rural communities have paved roadways.
Ecoregions/Protected areas
Human geography
The parish is made up of several scattered communities, that include: Almas, Azenha de Baixo, Azenha de Cima, Boavista, Cardal, Calheta, Cruz, Feteirinha, Fonte do Jordão, Glória, Lapa de Baixo, Lapa de Cima, Loural, Maia, Malbusca, Meio Moio, Panasco, Piedade, Santo António, Santo Espírito and Terra do Raposo.
Architecture
Civic
Lighthouse of Gonçalo Velho, located on Ponta do Castelo near the coastal town of Maia, the lighthouse began operation in 1927, but plans for this structure had been in the works since 1881;
Museum of Santa Maria - originally an ethnographic and parochial intuition, it houses exhibits on history, culture and tradition; Santo Espírito.
Whale Factory of Ponta do Castelo, located at the point of Castelo, the abandoned/ruins was once the center of whaling in the southeast corner of Santa Maria;
Windmill of Lapa, one of the few windmills that have survived, the stone base and wooden octagonal cupola are distinct features, although the sails are no longer available;
Windmill of Terra do Raposo, the ruins of this windmill includes simply the stone base, since much of its structure was abandoned and fell into ruins;
Military
Fort of Maia
Religious
Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade - located in Malbusca, and constructed by the local community.
Church of Nossa Senhora da Purificação, also referred to as the Church of Candlemas, the principal temple of the parish dates from 1537, when it was dedicated and moved from the small hamlet of Santo António;
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte, located in Panasco, in an enclosed/walled patio, this 19th century temple was reconstructed in 1886, following the storm effects ;
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Glória, situated in the hilltop community of Glória, the small chapel is marked by an sculpted stone retable which is a transposition of the Baroque tile in the "Nationalist"-style;
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Piedade
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, this single-nave hermitage is the principal church of Maia and was established in 1685, by Manuel de Sousa Falcão and his wife, Cristina, but remodelled in 1997, through the contributions of a grupo of Luso-American and -Canadian emigrantes;
Hermitage of Santo António, located in the hamlet of the same, the small 16th century church is encircled by other religious buildings, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Purificação
Império of the Holy Spirit of Nossa Senhora da Glória
Império of the Holy Spirit of Piedade
Império of the Holy Spirit of Santo António, in addition to this religious treatro, this includes a group of religious buildings constructed in the late 19th century, and used in religious celebrations throughout the decades;
