Arrifes is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The population in 2011 was 7,086, in an area of 25.37 km².
History
The name "Arrifes" has its origin in the Arab word "Al-rife" as meaning "reef" or coastal outcropping/rocks. It is unclear whether this name was attributed to the area around Relva originally (and expanded) or was given for other reasons.
Constructed in the second-half of the 18th-Century, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, incorporated the older chapel of the same name, originally initiated by D. Margarida Bettencourt da Câmara in her last will and testament on 12 July 1627.
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Saude (), a 17th-century chapel transformed into church, comprising a central nave and two aisles, presbytery, annexes and belltower on its left, illuminated intensely by rectangular lateral windows.
The church is not comparable to the Church of Fenais da Luz, which is quite narrow, but to the Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda da Bretanha;
- Church of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres (), inspired by the latter Baroque, the church has less width than Nossa Senhora da Saúde and carries the same architectural profile as Nossa Senhora da Piedade, including single nave and belltower.
Culture
Festivities
The rural parish celebrates many of its religious festivals from June until late September. Firstly, there is the Romarias and festivities that are realized on the first Sunday after 15 August, from the Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde. But these are also followed by the celebrations on the third Sunday of September at Nossa Senhora dos Milagres, and on the fourth Sunday of September at the Church of Nossa Senhora do Piedade.
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