Farming keeps development in check in the rural villages of Almagreira and Santa Bárbara

A farming landscape that shapes the land

Vineyards in stone-walled currais and grazing pastures are curbing urban expansion.

Limited construction compared with other parts of the island

Activity is confined to the renovation of existing homes.

Land value, caught between vineyard and housing

Abandoned vineyard plots are attracting twin interest, from both farming and residential buyers.

Farming as a case for the future

Preserving this landscape is seen as key to reviving wine production.

A patchwork of currais and pastures

The vineyard currais stretching between Almagreira and Santa Bárbara sit alongside large tracts of pasture used for livestock, forming a farming landscape that has changed little in recent decades. Local farmers explain that this mix of land uses has acted as a natural brake on urban expansion, since much of the land remains under active cultivation or tied to livestock-use commitments that are hard to break in the short term.

Renovation as the only avenue for growth

Unlike other parts of Santa Maria under greater tourist pressure, building activity in Almagreira and Santa Bárbara is almost entirely limited to renovating existing homes, with scarcely any new-build developments. Local developers say this reflects both the shortage of developable land and the lack of incentive to invest in such a small market, which keeps prices relatively stable compared with other parts of the island.

Twin interest in abandoned vineyards

Vineyard plots left uncultivated are drawing growing interest both from producers looking to revive winemaking and from buyers eyeing their potential for residential use, creating a degree of competition for this type of land. Some owners prefer to hold off on selling, aware that both types of buyer may keep bidding the price up in the coming years.

Institutional backing to revive production

The Regional Government of the Azores maintains support schemes for restoring abandoned vineyards in Santa Maria, aiming to revive a wine industry that once carried greater economic weight. Farming sector officials insist that keeping this currais landscape alive is key not only to winemaking, but also to preserving the rural character that sets Almagreira and Santa Bárbara apart from the rest of the island.