Editing Azores (section)

===Early settlement===
The archipelago was largely settled from mainland Portugal, but settlement did not take place right away. [[Gonçalo Velho Cabral]] gathered resources and settlers for the next three years (1433–1436) and sailed to establish colonies, first on [[Santa Maria Island|Santa Maria]] and then on [[São Miguel Island|São Miguel]]. Settlers built houses, established villages and cleared bush and rocks to plant crops, grain, grapevines, [[sugar cane]] and other plants suitable for local use and for export. They brought domesticated animals, such as chickens, rabbits, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The settlement of the unoccupied islands started in 1439 with people mainly from the continental provinces of [[Algarve]] and [[Alentejo]], in mainland Portugal. São Miguel was first settled in 1449, the settlers – mainly from the [[Estremadura Province (historical)|Estremadura]], [[Alto Alentejo Province|Alto Alentejo]] and Algarve areas of mainland Portugal – under the command of Gonçalo Velho Cabral, who landed at the site of modern-day [[Povoação, Azores|Povoação]].