Topo (Calheta)

Topo, also known as Nossa Senhora do Rosário, is a freguesia ("civil parish") on the northeastern corner of the municipality Calheta on the island of São Jorge.

This adventurous Fleming, who later adopted the name "Guilherme da Silveira", and whose descendants populate the numerous villages of São Jorge, was later buried in the chapel-annex of the Solar dos Tiagos.

Although this coast was punctuated by steep cliffs, a staircase to the Cais velho and successive remodelling (between 1560 and 1637) allowed access to the village by sea.

In fact, the village of Topo, until the middle of the 20th century did not have an adequate overland link to the rest of the island, and relied on its port.

During the whaling era, in the middle of the 19th century, the port of Topo was the first on the island to support and replenish whalers; the first company was founded in 1885.

With this change the village has been able to stabilize the current population, and attract new functions, including: a Sports Pavilion, cantina, laboratories and public library.

Entrance portico to the ruins of the Chapel of the Solar dos Tiagos , burial place of Willem van der Haegen, Flemish settler and founder of the village of Topo
Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário , remodelled after the Mandado de Deus
The dividing range of Serra do Topo and Cume dos Arrebentões, that separates Topo from the rest of São Jorge
A view from the Topo Lookout, showing the beginning of the village
The ruins of the Tiago family homestead before its restoration