Fajã da Rocha da Relva

The journey is taken slowly, on foot or by donkey, with legs turned towards the cliff, like the Amazons. As soon as Aníbal Raposo reaches Fajã da Rocha da Relva, he opens the door of his house and blows into a búzio. The sound echoes across the slope, announcing his return.

A retired engineer, poet, musician, and singer-songwriter, Aníbal knows the fajã like few others. He plants vineyards and orchards for future generations, living in harmony with the rhythm of the land and sea, keeping alive the traditions of a place where every gesture holds ancient meaning.

At Octant Ponta Delgada, this same respect for the island is felt – for its nature, culture, and the stories of those, like Aníbal, who teach that living in a place means understanding and celebrating it every day.

The journey to get there is done on foot or by donkey, sitting sideways like the Amazons, with legs turned towards the cliffs. As soon as Aníbal Raposo reaches the Fajã of his life, he opens the door of his house, picks up a huge conch shell, and blows into it. The sound echoes across the entire Fajã da Rocha da Relva, announcing his presence. Life in the Fajã is simple. Vineyards are cultivated on small terraces, traditionally with American grape varieties, and the fragrant wine is offered as a courtesy whenever one enters a neighbouring house. The fajã has its own codes, lived and passed down through the ages, since the early days of clearing the land and populating the island. Fertile lands by the sea, hard to reach, served as granaries for feeding the communities and families living in more accessible settlements. Now a retired engineer, Aníbal invests his time and knowledge in planting a tropical fruit orchard for his descendants. Small steps lead from the house to the cliffs, giving access to the trees. He speaks of them with expertise and enchantment. During his time in Porto, where he studied architecture and built his professional career, he developed the desire to return to the Azores. Back in his homeland, you might find him on stage. A musician, poet, and singer-songwriter, he blends popular culture with traditional music and socially conscious influences. But it is in Fajã da Rocha da Relva that Aníbal has lived fully, since the day he was born. Accompanying him on a trip to the Fajã is a chance to learn about the island’s geology, flora, and fauna. It’s about appreciating the knowledge that land and sea offer us, and recognizing how we can live and love the place that shapes us as human beings.