After depositing herds on the island in the first half of the 15th Century, the first colonies were formed around 1460 from settlers from the north of Portugal (by way of Terceira and Graciosa). Its first Captain-Donatário was Álvaro de Ornelas, but who never took up his role on the island, as it was incorporated into Captaincy of Faial. Lajes was its first entitled village, closely followed by São Roque in 1542. Its settlers were initially occupied with wheat cultivation in addition to the exploration of the woad industry (based on lichens that were exported to Flanders to produce commercial dyes), and heavily influenced by export industries of its island neighbor, Faial.

Quickly, the viticulture industry, helped by the rich soils and micro-climates had allowed to expand the lands cultivating grapes. Its development would occur uninterrupted along the margins of history except for volcanic eruptions during the 18th Century; the viticulture and “orange cycle” would expand the activities on the island throughout the period. In 1723 Madalena is elevated to the status of “town”, confirming its economic importance to the island, and its commercial links to Faial (Horta had been the residence of many of the island’s property-owners and winemakers). Pico’s famous verdelho, for more than two centuries, was appreciated in many countries (including England and in the Americas and even reached the palaces of the Russian czars). But, the spread of powdery mildew and phylloxera during the middle of the 19th Century destroyed many of the vineyards creating a crisis on the island that lasted until the 20th Century.

The presence of American whalers in the waters of the Azores introduced a new economy at the end of the 18th Century that would serve to stabilize the economy, until new casts were introduced on the island. Whaling became the primary industry around the island until the 1970s.

Historical eruptions of Pico have occurred from vents on its flanks rather than the summit crater. In 1562–64, an eruption on the southeast flank produced lava flows which reached the sea. Another flank eruption in 1718 also produced flows which reached the coast. The most recent eruption occurred in December 1718.

On 29 September 2009 there were reports from local news sources that indicated that a fumarole existing at the pinnacle of the mountain (Piquinho) began emitting volcanic gas. The region’s seismic and volcanological monitoring centre (Portuguese:CIVISA Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores) indicated that the phenomenon occurred in the early morning, turning intense and visible in various points throughout the island and from Faial. Although the event resulted from exceptional meteorological conditions and was visible in the Central Group, there was no liberation of anomalous volcanic gases and all other parameters fell within norms.

Mount Pico is part of the Madalena Volcanic Complex, one of three volcanological units that comprise the island of Pico, associated with three historic eruptions in 1562, 1718 and 1720. Current morphology suggests an age dating to the Holocene age, confirmed by radiocarbon dates younger than 6000 years. Structurally, this complex can be subdivided into two other sections: the Pico Volcano and the East Fissural Zone.

Pico is a stratovolcano, with a pit crater on its summit. Pico Alto the round crater about 500 meters (1,600 ft) in diameter and 30 meters deep tops the volcano, with Piquinho (Pico Pequeno) a small volcanic cone rising 70 meters within it to form the true summit. Meanwhile, the East Fissural Zone comprises several alignments of Hawaiian/Strombolian scoria cones and associated lava flows, which overflowed many of the cliffs, cut in older units and originated lava deltas (Portuguese: fajãs).

The tectonic structure is characterized by two fault systems. The main WNW-ESE structures are the dextral faults of Laoga do Capitão and Topo, that merge to the east, forming a narrow shallow graben. To the west, the graben is completely covered by the Pico stratovolcano occurring less than 10,000 years ago, and infilled by lava flows and cones of the Eastern Fissural zone, that includes many of the volcanic alignments and scarps. The second fault zone, running NNW-SSE, are markedly less in number and includes normal left lateral, oblique slip faults responsible for the main volcanic eruptions: the Lomba de Fogo-São João fault (basis of the 1718 eruption)and the Santo António volcanic alignment.

On top of Pico (Piquinho) there is an area of permanent degasification characterized by the emission of water vapour at a temperature of between 50ºC to 75°C. In addition, other vents also exist between 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, as well as diffuse degasification along the graben between the Lagoa do Capitão and Topo faults. There is also a carbon dioxide-rich spring in the locality of Silveira (along the southern coast of Lajes do Pico, formed in the base of Pico.

Hiking trails are available and the ascent to the summit can be made in around two to four hours from the trailhead for fit persons depending on weather which can be quite treacherous especially in winter months.

The origin of this place were two volcanic eruptions, one occurred in the sixteenth century and another in the early seventeenth century, more precisely in 1718. The last eruption took great violence, and carried the expulsion of large amounts of lava, whose rivers in some cases, travel distances reached nine kilometers until they reach the sea between Porto Cachorro and the Lajido.1

These black lava fields, has been over the local centuries of vine cultivation, whose high quality wines highlights the Verdelho.

These formations are composed of volcanic caves and lava tubes which together give rise to an appreciable mass of solidified lava clippings.

These formations extend the sea causing the strong eddies and whirlpools marine waters when it enters the tunnels and in volcanic caves.

Given its characteristics are encompassed in the protected landscape of Culture of the Pico Island Vineyard.

The Whaling Museum, in Lajes do Pico

Whaling Industry Museum, in São Roque do Pico

Wine Museum in Madalena.
Them presents collective memories associated with regional cycles – historical and mythical – whaling and wine industry on the island.

The Whaling Museum

Consisting of a set of three old houses of whaling boats century. XIX, the interesting Whaling Museum shows the importance of whaling activity on Pico Island. The Whaling tradition of the island dates back to the eighteenth century, when the Americans arrived that led to whale hunting, an activity that has come to be one of the main livelihoods of the island, along with the production of various products derived from cetaceans. Opened in 1988, the Whaling Museum, in conjunction with the Whaling Industry Museum, is unique in Europe, demonstrating the importance and difficulties of this activity for future generations, keeping such an important heritage preserved.

Whaling Industry Museum

Located in the old Society Whale Factory of “Frames Dinghies gathered Limited” built in 1942, the Whaling Industry Museum portrays the importance that the activity of Whaling printed on the Island. Whaling this tradition dates back to the eighteenth century, when the Americans arrived that led to whale hunting, an activity that has come to be one of the main livelihoods of São Roque do Pico and the Island itself, along with the production of various products derived from cetaceans .
The activity did not depend only hunting cetaceans, but many of the products they originated, such as oils and meals, which in this museum realized. The Factory Frames gathered operated from 1946 to 1984, housing since 2007 this museum with a rich estate which has two large boilers, oil tanks, furnaces, electric generators, a mill, among many other industrial structures required in such industries. A heritage and important for the island and the archipelago, which has shaped the lives of people for many years.

Wine Museum

Museum opened in 1999, housed in the former convent of the Carmelites (XVII / XVIII), to expose the history of wine, organizing visits to vineyards and wine tasting. During the months of September allows the participation of visitors in harvest.