Fajã de São João

Fajã de São João
Debris field (Fajã)
A view of the Fajã of São João, ridges and the principal roadway leading to the coast
Named for: John the Baptist
Country	Portugal
Autonomous region	Azores
Group	Central
Island	São Jorge
Municipality	Calheta
Civil parish	Santo Antão
Coordinates	38°32′53″N 27°51′38″W / 38.54806°N 27.86056°W / 38.54806; -27.86056Coordinates: 38°32′53″N 27°51′38″W / 38.54806°N 27.86056°W / 38.54806; -27.86056
Biomes	Temperate, Mediterranean
Geology	Alkali basalt, Tephra, Trachyte, Trachybasalt
Orogeny	Volcanism
Period	Holocene
For public	Public
Easiest access	Road
Geographic detail from Portuguese Army map

The Fajã de São João is a permanent debris field, built from the collapsing cliffs on the northern coast of the civil parish of Santo Antão, in the municipality of Calheta, island of São Jorge, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.

Owing to the abundant sources of water, resulting from large waterfalls, and the extraordinary microclimate, the fajã was permanently inhabited from 1550 to 1560. The micro-climate permitted the cultivation of vineyards and fruits, such as figs, walnuts, oranges, apples, chestnuts and pineapples, including limited production of coffee beans. The small hermitage was constructed around 1550, to satisfy the vows of Father Diogo de Matos da Silveira, who wanted to a religious temple for the small community.

In 1625, Barbary coast pirates attacked this part of the coast, resulting in their capture of several of the early inhabitants, who were sent as captives to North Africa. As a result of this incident, a small fort was constructed near the port, but this did not limit future incursions. In 1686, pirates from Salé disembarked, without a shot being fired from the fort. These privateers preceded to demolish the fort and sacked the homes and hermitage, destroying an image of St. John that existed at the site.

During the famed Mandado de Deus (Sent by God) earthquake, much of the resident population was lost under landslides (its effects are still visible along the coast). Reconstructed, it was hit again during the 1 January 1980 earthquake resulting in further destruction to the small population.

The fajã was used by several noble or rich families as their summer residences. Many of these families, such as the Noronhas, were owners of great properties, produced wine and sealed them in barrels, which were transported to Terceira. The Noronhas produced their wines and sent those barrels to their manorhouse in Villa Maria, then residence of José Pimentel Homem de Noronha (and his father the morgado João Inácio de Bettencourt Noronha), where they bottled and commercially sold their products.

Today, the fajã is an important producer of Jaquê wine, in addition to spirits, such as loquat and fig aguardiente. Although an insignificant contributor to the local economy, coffee beans were cultivated in the fajã intermittently.