In December 1954, an article written by Antonio Fiorillo, from the Istituto di Cultura Italiana in Portogallo, titled «Le Isole Azzorre» was published in the Magazine «l’Universo».

About Antonio Fiorillo, I managed to find out that he wrote a good set of other articles about Portugal in the same «Universo» («Alentejo, il granaio del Portogallo», «La Costa do sol and le hilline di Sintra», «Lisbon, città dai molteplici aspetti» and «Aspetti geo-economici della regione del Douro», at least), in addition to having translated it. The Italian book «The Wool and the Snow» by Ferreira de Castro, with the title «Uomini Come Noi».

This article in particular, «Le Isole Azzorre», is particularly valid for the interest of some photographs (presumably of the author himself), although it has one or the other paragraphs also of some interest:

«The folkloristic interest of the Azores islands is entrusted with very original aspects, mainly with regard to the costumes worn by the population and as far as music is concerned. The « charamba », the « pesinho », the « sapateia », the « saudade », are all typical forms of blue melodies that have in the violin and the accordion, the instruments most suitable to make the motives that characterize them sweet, accurate, and meaningful.

And what about the « hood », the « manto » and the « carapuço » which are such complements of a simple and solemn dressing room together, essential and well shaped, even when it seems excessive? The «coat», for example, consists of a long skirt, whose width reaches six meters, and a «hair». It is divided into five parts and the hair is made so that the wearer, tying it in the front, can completely hide their face so that everything can be seen and no one can see it in the face.

Another important and characteristic aspect of the environment of the Azores Islands is given by whale hunting that would be called monopoly of the Arctic regions. Whale hunting is not limited to a period; it takes place at every time of the year and is practiced through numerous rowing boats that almost wouldn’t find themselves suitable for a festival. The reporting man scrutches the sea horizon to manage to catch such. Boats are waiting on the waves of sea. From above a height, water jet that reveals the large ocean mammal. So hoist a red flag and light a bonfire: the boats launch towards the prey. It hits with precision and firmness and the reason is obvious. The boat from which the fatal harp was launched will be for long, scary minutes in the wake of the monster that reacts with violence and anger against the enemy. It’s on occasions like these that the Azores show their great modesty towards the sea, as they are maneuvering with experience in not so calm waters and mostly moved by the spasmodic contractions of the injured whale. A moment of inattention, an untimely or wrong maneuver and death is certain.

Whale fishing is a resource for islanders that would otherwise lack a considerable amount of profit. A whale, with its several meters long (some twenty-five meters long have been caught), with its mountain of fat and meat is a guarantee of work and trade; something that pays off in the wear of a long wait, of a gigantic struggle, of a triumphant passionate adventure. »

«Even in Terceira the most interesting attraction is given by natural beauties. It would be said that where nature was more violent, once you placed the uncontrollable force erupting from her breast, beauty, abundance of life, bright splendor of colors were expanded at full hands.

It is a statement this is valid for all the Azores and those who visit them can only be puzzled by this statement. And this will last until the day when these islands left from the sea, mysterious and rich with superb landscapes, will return to the sea that will close indifferent on them cancelling and destroying everything, as maybe happened in centuries for who knows how many regions, one day fragments of works and life. »

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