Água de Alto is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 1,788, in an area of 18.41 km<sup>2</sup>.
History
According to historian Gaspar Frutuoso, little is known about this parish. What is known is that during the 15th century, a hermitage in this region sheltered a hospital for lepers, named Lazareto (after the saint São Lázaro, or Gafaria). Following Gaspar Frutuoso's reference, the community of Água de Alto consisted of thirty houses, administered by Father Baltazar Faguntes. On one day, close to evening, the peasants returned to their homes, where the women had prepared meager meals.
| 1911 | 1584
| 1930 | 1689
| 1990 | 1624
| 2001 | 1734
|}
Água de Alto is situated on the southern coast of the island of São Miguel. It is located along the regional roadway E.R.1-1ª, that encircles the island, connecting the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo with Ponta Delgada by way of the community of Lagoa along the southern coast.
Economy
Economically, the primary sector is still the most important activities in the parish, however, its relevance has steadily declined over time. The pastures of the parish are dominated by cattle ranching and dairy herding, with agriculture that includes the cultivation of potato, corn and other vegetables are occurring in the small parcels.