Prainha do Norte - Pico PRC09 PIC

This circular route starts in the center of Prainha parish, at the Dr. José Machado Serpa square, where the Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, the parish council, the headquarters of the philharmonic, the bandstand, and the “Império” of the Holy Spirit are located.

The landscape is marked by agricultural areas, with small farms, orchards, and vineyards with traditional "corrals" made of black basalt. Associated with the vineyard culture, you can also see the "wine cellars", currently converted into holiday homes or rural tourism accommodations. Near Canto da Areia Bay, the trail crosses the old vineyard area of Morro, which due to its abandonment, is now occupied by coastal heathlands of Azores Heather (Erica azorica), Picconia azorica locally known as “Pau Branco”, and Firebush (Morella faya). This area has high natural values, with endemic flora and fauna species, being an important nesting area for the Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis), a seabird protected by national and international laws, and therefore classified as a Protected Area for the Management of Habitats and Species by the Pico Nature Park.

At Ponta da Rocha viewpoint, you can enjoy beautiful views over the Santo Amaro and Prainha parishes. This trail presents a rich cultural and built heritage, where it is possible to observe the ruins of one of the first residential areas of the parish and the island; the Casa do Fio, a small building where, in the past, residents would gather to transform carded wool into yarn, which also served as an old mooring post for the submarine telephone cable; and the São Pedro Chapel where, on the "stone block" that serves as the base of the cross, is possible to observe a carved human face. Also, along the trail, the old stone bridges and "pasture collection houses" stand out, used for the storage of tools, agricultural products, or fodder for animals. In the more coastal stretch, you will pass by a tidal pool and a rotating windmill, and will be able to enjoy two excellent bathing areas: Canto da Areia, one of the few sandy beaches on the island, and Poça Branca, a natural pool of clear water.

This short route ends at the square where it began, from which the nearby island of São Jorge can be seen