and economic development of its centres, on 12 June 2002, the Regional Legislative Assembly decided to divide the remaining territory and establish the civil parishes of Ajuda and Pilar de Bretanha. Geography The civil parish, as established by charter, is located in the northwestern coast of the island São Miguel. Its borders follow the coast, and front the crater of the Sete Cidades massif (Cumeeiras das Sete Cidades) in the interior, bordered on the east by the civil parish of Ajuda da Bretanha and west by Mosteiros. Its eastern frontier begins at the Atlantic Ocean and runs into the interior, following the waterway of the Grota da Lomba Grande, travelling south along this border between Grota da Lomba Grande and accessway to the Caminho da Lomba Grande (where it heads east until the margin), continuing south along the Grota da Lomba Grande again until reaching the Cumeeiras das Sete Cidades. Its western frontier is simply defined by the waterway of the Grota do Loural. Architecture Religious Church of Nossa Senhora do Pilar (, the church was erected at the location of a former hermitage, that was ordered built by Captain Sebastião Álvares de Benevides in 1680. It was rebuilt in 1716, and expanded over the centuries, with the last altars (dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua and St. Joseph) installed by 1800. Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Boa Nova ( Culture Religious festivals dedicated to the Holy Spirit run in most of the parish, beginning after Easter Sunday and ending on 29 June. There are also various celebrations dedicated to St. Anthony (13 June), St. John the Baptist (24 June) and St. Peter (29 June). References Notes Sources Parishes of Ponta Delgada