The Cultural Centre John Dos Passos opened on the 20th of September 2004 in a ceremony headed by the President of the Government. To the event also attended Lucy Dos Passos Coggin, Rodney Coggin and Lara, the daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter of the American writer descendant from a Madeiran immigrant originally from Ponta do Sol. The building was acquired by the Regional Government in 1996 to Maria Amália Pitta Telles, who was the heiress and last owner of Villa Passos, at the time living in Venezuela. The property went through a delicate and detailed recovery process, but still preserves its original features from the 30s, time when the building suffered the last modifications made by its last resident, her father Doctor Fortunato Pitta. The study Centre John dos Passos – a property built during the 1st half of the 19th century – is located right in the heart of Ponta do Sol and is a mark from the historic and edified patrimony of the village side by side with the Church of Our Lady of Light, the Saint Sebastian Chapel and the Saint Anthony Chapel.
The Villa Passos in Ponta do Sol belonged to family members of Manuel Joaquim Dos Passos, born in 1812 and John Dos Passos’ grandfather, who emigrated to the United States of America in 1830 and formed his family.
Presently it is an institution with cultural features, committed to develop diverse cultural actions.