MFM-AV, inv. FJB/1

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Church of St. John the Baptist

Originally having the chapel of São Lourenço as its headquarters, the parish of Fajã da Ovelha was created between the years 1518 and 1520. 

This property was ordered built in the eighteenth century by Princess D. Catarina, Regent of the Kingdom, and by decree of June 27, 1705, the space was approved for the construction of a new church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, which was built in the second half of the eighteenth century. Inside we note an altarpiece of the Rococo period, from the workshop of Estevão Teixeira da Nóbrega, and a set of religious paintings on canvas by the German painter Max Romer from the mid-twentieth century, which present an interesting symbiosis with the introduction of Madeiran tropical fruits in scenes of the life of Christ in Galilee.

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Chapel of St. Lawrence

Built in the mid-sixteenth century, it was the seat of the parish of Fajã da Ovelha until the mid-eighteenth century, when the new church was built, which bears the date “1648” on the gable. It is said to have been owned by Afonso Jardim.

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Butter Factory

Located at Sítio de São Lourenço, the factory was built in the late nineteenth century by Augusto César de Gouveia. In the two-storey building, the 1st floor was reserved to produce the "Águia" brand butter, which was packed in metal boxes and exported from Madeira before the 1st World War. Pasta was produced on the second floor.

It was the first building in the parish to have electricity, which was produced through generators powered by water from the stream. Note that on the other side of the factory there was a watermill. In 1958 it ceased operations and was sold by an heir to an American, Paul Clasgaus Kunkel Jr. on April 19, 1974. Meanwhile, it later became the property of an American banking institution based in the State of Ohio. In 2002 it was classified as a heritage of municipal interest.

In October 2023, the factory was totally destroyed by a huge fire that spread throughout almost the entire municipality of Calheta.

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The Zimbreiros Cable and Viewpoint

The cable was built by Pedro Augusto de Gouveia to transport the butter produced in the Fajã da Ovelha factory to Paul do Mar.

On site we can still find some ruins of this old cable car, as well as a water reservoir tank, support houses and some sales to support travellers. From here visitors can see the southern slope of Ponta do Pargo and Fajã da Ovelha, and Paul do Mar.