Medieval Synagogue

The oldest reference to this temple is found in the will of João Tomé, the "Master", dated March 13, 1537, and it is believed that the chapel was built at that time.[1] According to Gaspar Frutuoso, Bartolomeu Luiz, from São Paulo, was his first curate.

The blessing of the temple took place on June 16, 1950, and was presided over by the ecclesiastical ombudsman of Horta, Father José Silveira Luís. That same day, a bell and an image of the Virgin were also blessed. On the 17th and 18th of that same month, several pilgrimages took place there, coming from all the parishes of Faial, pilgrimages that, along the way, entered all the churches they passed to the sound of the ringing bells. These pilgrimages became a habit in the following years.

The Monastery of Batalha, is a Dominican monastery founded in 1386 under King John I of Portugal (1385-1433) in thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary for the victory over Castilian rivals in the battle of Aljubarrota (1383-1385). The monastery was built over two centuries until around 1563. It is a marvellous example of the Manueline style, which is why it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery was also voted in 2007 as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It finally has the status of National Pantheon since 2016.