Rabo de Peixe (Portuguese for "fish tail") is a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 8,866, in an area of 16.96&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. It is the most populous and most densely populated parish in the municipality. It contains the localities Charco, Custódio, Labardas, Nogueira, Pico da Madeira, Pico da Varanda, Pico do Bode, Pico do Refugio, Rebentão, Santana, São Sebastião, Senhora da Conceição and Tulha.

History

It is uncertain when the territory was settled, although it is assumed that the settlement of Ribeira Grande may have directly affected colonization of the area. Local sources put the colonization at around the 15th century, by Flemish and Moorish settlers.

Its toponomy was first defined by Father Gaspar Frutuoso during the 16th century, who reflected on the fact that the area received its name owing to the physical topography. The project who allow the shelter of ships and equipment within a area. In addition, the port facility would include a floating dock and three piers, in addition to expansion of port facilities to include ramps and docks for the repair of boats, fish-houses and a new roadway that would circle the complex (linked to the main roadway).

Notable citizens

  • António José Moniz ( Rabo de Peixe; 24 May 1868 - Rabo de Peixe; 26 October 1930), a Franciscan priest, orator and colonial missionary, known as Father António do Presépio (António of the Manger);
  • Paul José Tavares (Rabo de Peixe; 25 January 1920 - Lisbon; 12 June 1973), priest and, later, Bishop of Macau (1967-1973), where he shifted the attention of the clergy in the Asia away from the traditional Luso-dominated conclaves to Asian-born clergy;
  • Manuel António Vasconcelos (Pilar da Bretanha - Rabo de Peixe), journalist and founder of the newspapers Açoriano Oriental and O Temp;
  • Ruy Galvão de Carvalho (Rabo de Peixe, 3 November 1903 — Ponta Delgada; 29 April 1991), poet, author, essayist and professor, who was notable for his biography of the life and published works of Antero de Quental, and a diverse literary collection under the pseudonym Abd-el Kader, as well as his Antologia Poética dos Açores
  • António Tavares Torres (Rabo de Peixe; 13 June 1856 — Rabo de Peixe, 28 September 1936), a self-taught intellectual, journalist, poet, lyricist (responsible for the first regional anthem Autonomia dos Açores) and politician (member of the Partido Progressista, president of the Municipal Council of Ribeira Grande and Junta Geral);
  • José Amaral da Luz (13 June 1879 - ), poet and recognized "King" of the Cavalhadas de São Pedro da Ribeira Seca;
  • António Raposo de Amaral (born unknown - died Porto; 23 June 1987), poet, author and bibliophile;
  • António Tavares Penacho (1888 - 13 November 1960), founder of the typography studio Insular e Gerente da Oficina de Artes Gráficas, printing the newspaper A Ilha;
  • José Vieira (Rabo de Peixe;18 June 1913 - Ponta Delgada; 2 April 1987), a set designer responsible for constructing a large removable stage that allowed the Revistas Lanterna Mágica e Bota to travel throughout the island putting on plays, and who, along with Santo Figueira and Vítor Cruz, was responsible for the great dances in the Coliseu theatre in Ponta Delgada;
  • Francisco Manuel Raposo de Almeida (17 August 1817), editor of the Tribuno do Povo (between Novembro 1838 and March 1839), who in the middle of the 19th century emigrated to Brazil, where he was involved in other newspapers, before becoming an author, playwright and historian;

References

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