Azores Islands
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"The
Empire of the Holy Ghost", Terceira
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Situated 907 miles from the European
coast and 2330 miles from North America,
the archipelago of the Azores was
discovered during the first half of
the 15th-century by Portuguese navigators.
Consisting of nine islands, it is
divided into three groups: the eastern
(São Miguel and Santa Maria
islands), the central (Terceira, Graciosa,
São Jorge, Pico and Faial islands),
and the western (Corvo and Flores
islands). Apart from international
airports of Santa Maria, Ponta Delgada
and Angra, there are flights to the
islands (operated by the regional
airline SATA) and ferry boats between
the islands.
Even the blasé visitor will
be touched by the sapphire blue and
emerald green lakes, fertile prairies,
volcanic cones and craters, colorful
hydrangeas and azaleas, 15th century
churches and majestic manor houses.
This legendary land, consisting of
nine poetically-named islands, enjoys
year-round mild temperatures (between
14°C and 22°C–57°F
and 71°F) and is a peaceful shelter
with a population of 250 000 inhabitants,
for whom the words “stress”
and “pollution” are not
part of their vocabulary.
There are many stories to tell of
the archipelago’s beauty, of
fishermen or shepherds, but amongst
them there is one which was told by
a holidaymaker. As a foreign couple
was silently looking at the Caldeira
das Sete Cidades, they were interrupted
by their six-year-old son, who asked
them: “Is this God’s home?”.
Places of interest
Santa Maria Island
Offers excellent water sports facilities.
Special mention to: Praia, Santo Espírito,
São Lourenço, São
Pedro and Vila do Porto, a village
with superb manor houses, mother-church
and Nossa Senhora dos Anjos Chapel
(where Columbus’ crew prayed).
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Lagoa das Sete Cidades, São Miguel
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São Miguel Island
The largest of all. In Ponta Delgada,
the capital, the famous 18th century
portals open up to a number of monuments
that are worth visiting, most of them
built between the 16th and the 18th
century: Carlos Machado Museum and
churches of São Sebastião,
São Pedro, São José,
Colégio and Nossa Senhora da
Conceição; convent and
chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança
and Santa Ana Chapel. Palaces: Fonte
Bela and Santa Ana; Conceição
and Santa Catarina; Casa de Carlos
Bicudo and the Paços do Concelho.
Other places to visit: Caldeira das
Sete Cidades (green and blue lakes);
Lagoa do Fogo; Ribeira Grande; Vale
das Furnas (spas and hot mineral pools)
and Vila Franca do Campo.
Terceira Island
The historic centre of its capital,
Angra do Heroísmo, has been
classified in UNESCO’s International
Heritage list. Special reference to
the forts of São Sebastião
and São João Baptista
(16th-17th-centuries); the palaces
of the Bettencourts (Baroque) and
of the Capitães-Generais; the
Cathedral, with its silver altar front
and treasure; the churches of Colégio
dos Jesuítas, São Gonçalo
and Nossa Senhora da Conceição
(17th-century); the churches of Misericórdia
and Nossa Senhora da Guia (18th-century,
the latter encloses the Angra Museum).
Other points of interest: Praia da
Vitória, Santa Bárbara,
São Sebastião and Vila
Nova.
Graciosa Island
In Santa Cruz da Graciosa you will
find ancient streets and manor-houses,
a beautiful mother-church (16th-18th
centuries), Santo Cristo Church (16th
century), Cruz da Barra (Manueline)
and Ethnographic House. In the Furna
do Enxofre, dazzling sights and a
vaulted cave over an underground lake
(between 11am and 2pm the sunlight
filters in). You must also visit Guadalupe
and its Baroque church, Luz and Praia
(typical windmills).
Faial lsland
In Horta, a famous yacht harbour,
look at the beautiful tiles and gilded
carvings in the 17th and 18th century
churches of São Salvador, Nossa
Senhora do Carmo and São Francisco.
To visit: Sacred Art Museum, Nossa
Senhora das Angústias Church,
Nossa Senhora do Pilar Chapel, Império
dos Nobres and Porto Pim fortifications,
Caldeira Natural Reserve, Capelinhos,
grottoes and caves in Costa da Feteira
and Monte da Guia belvedere.
Pico Island
Owes its name to the 7713 ft high
volcanic cone. Special reference to
São Roque do Pico, with its
18th century churches of São
Roque and São Pedro de Alcântara;
Lajes do Pico, with its Whale Museum;
Madalena, with its Wine Museum and
17th-century church, and Areia Larga,
with beautiful winery manor houses.
Other places: Calheta de Nesquim,
Candelária, Criação
Velha, Piedade (forest preserve),
Prainha do Norte, Santa Luzia, Santo
Amaro, São Caetano, São
João and São Mateus.
São Jorge Island
Velas, with its fishing port, is
the main town. One can admire its
manor houses, the churches of São
Jorge (17th century), and Nossa Senhora
da Conceição, Town Hall
(Azorian Baroque) and 18th century
walls. Do not miss Calheta, Manadas,
Ribeira Seca, Topo and Urzelina.
Flores Island
In Santa Cruz, you will find manors,
the churches of São Boaventura
(Baroque) and Nossa Senhora da Conceição
(19th century) and the Ethnographic
Museum. Trips to Ribeira Grande Waterfall,
to the Gruta dos Enxaréus (by
boat) and to Lagoas (seven lakes surrounded
by flowers).
Corvo Island
The smallest of all and a peaceful
sanctuary. In Vila Nova do Corvo,
narrow cobblestoned streets and the
Church of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres.
In Caldeirão (enormous volcanic
crater),there are two lakes with nine
small islands, just like the archipelago.
For more information on the region
visit the Websites
page
Local gastronomy
- Cozido das furnas (stew made in
the hot springs)
- Rumpsteaks
- Octopus stewed in wine
- Barnacles and limpets
- Cheeses
- Wines: Vinho de cheiro, verdelho
and liqueurs
Handicrafts
- Wicker baskets and furniture
- Miniatures in fig tree pith
- Embroideries and lace
- Blankets and bedspreads
- Artificial flowers made with
fish scales
- Blue and white ceramics
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