I will let people more knowledgeable about Joao Afonso discuss his history and story.
For now I can tell you that Grotas Fundas is a neighbourhood, even today, on the eastern border of the village of Ponta Garca. Because of the hills and mountains, the town of Ponta Garca ends there and borders hills surrounding Ribeira Quente. There is a very nice beach at the bottom that was actually part of the property of Dr, Agusto Botelho de Simas. It was his summer home. He was a well known and respected doctor in the 1950-80 era, based in Vila Franca, now deceased. There is a bust of him in the main square honoring his life and work. The beach is now public with public access. From there you get fabulous views of the peninsulas jutting out into the ocean, east and west, and south is the ocean.. And you might even see whales or dolphins swimming by. Looking east is Ribeira Quente, but its view is blocked by a huge rolling hills, beautiful in their right. Looking west is the coastline leading to Vila Franca, easily visible, an outstanding view. The land is rich and suitable for farming and was covered by vineyards in times past, and I guess that's what made it so attractive to our ancestors. Apparently, other well known families from the upper class owned land there. There is a trail, still in use for hikers, that people took in the past, by foot and donkey from Grotas Fudas to Ribeira Quente. They were mostly cousins, farm workers and fisherfolk and exchanged produce and goods. You often read about ancestors that lived in Grotas Fundas or the place called "Ribeira Quente, limit de fraguesia de Ponta Garca." It was also the shortest way to Ribeira Quente and Povoacao. Otherwise, you have to go north, way up to the main road, where essentially you are on top of hill. There is a long, winding and steep road, called the Guiteria that starts at Grotas Fundas and makes it way up the main road. It is pastoral and you might encounter cows on the moo-ve! Sorry couldn't resist. At the top you will be rewarded with a vista of the whole of Ponta Garca and Vila Franca. Take your camera! JR On Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 9:02:45 PM UTC-4, manita.morgado wrote: > > I would like the answer to that question too! > > I have a few questions: > > 1. What is the story? > > I tried to read the section on him in "Familias Antigas Povoação" but my > Portuguese is limited. I only recognize words ...something about torture, > abandon, going to Rome to ask the Pope for forgiveness, walking to Santiago > de Compostela and building a hospital. > > 2. What is the controversy? > > 3. Is there further study being done on him? What other source records > exist on him? > > 4. Now that we have DNA testing. Is it possible now to prove who he was? > > I'm completely fascinated. > > 5. Also. Where exactly if Grotas Fundas? I want to go visit this place > when I go to Sao Miguel next week. > > Looking foward to any information you have on him. > > Thank you! > -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores.
