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“The geography for us means the same thing as history,” wrote Nemésio Vitorino, a famous author of Azoreans. Even if it is the same for the arts?

The Museu dos Baleeiros (Pico)
The history of whaling in the archipelago is exposed with boats at Museu dos Baleeiros at Lajes do Pico. You’ll find whaling and all the equipment needed to hunt and a beautiful collection of scrimshaws, carved teeth cetacean motifs.

The paintings of the port of Horta (Faial)
A Faial, wharves, piers, promenades, walls of the marina of Horta were covered paints figurative and abstract setting images of sailors worldwide who have made stopovers on the island: an art gallery in full air.

Azores archipelago, particularly seduces lovers of fishing, hiking and more general nature lovers.

The marine mammals
When the uproar of thousands of “splashs” grows while nothing is yet visible to the naked eye is that a bench of a hundred dolphins are coming closer. You may also witness sperm whale rotates on its side preparing to dive. You may go aboard a boat equipped for the observation of marine mammals. Each year from June to September, sperm whales, dolphins and whales are eating fish in the waters of the archipelago. The islands of Faial, Pico and Sao Jorge organize these trips at sea

The fishing
The ban on whaling was imposed in 1981. A practice since the seventeenth century. But sailors from the Azores always have a solid reputation. Today, the archipelago is a landmark of fishing, an international centre on the high seas that broke several world records. With a little experience and great humility, white and blue swordfish, tuna and some species of sharks may be at your fingertips. From June to September, Horta, Ponta Delgada, Santa Maria chartering equipment for fishing trips.

The flora
Blue, white or pink, large inflorescences hydrangeas invade the islands in summer. On Faial, blue takes place with its flowers. On Sao Miguel, the luxuriant vegetation is on the site of Achada das Furnas, which is both hot and humid, invites you to walk or even hiking. On the island of Flores is renowned with the flowers. The volcanism fertilizes the soil. Just everywhere, tropical species mix with European plants. You recognize the redwoods, dragonniers, tulip trees, palm trees and cedars.

In the Azores, each city tells you a piece of history of the archipelago. And on the rough sea are still shadows of ships filled with treasures from the Americas ….

Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel)

Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel, “capital” of the Azores and the seat of government, contains homes from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with its narrow passageways The port was a fuel stop between Europe and America. Visit of Gonçalo Velho Cabral, the fort of Sao Bras, the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Esperança which houses the Christ of Miracles and São Sebastião church built in the sixteenth century, famous for its Manuelinee. The main museum of the Azores is Carlos Machado Museum.

Angra do Heroismo (Terceira)

On Terceira, the city of Angra do Heroismo is listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its architecture a blend of Portuguese, Brazilian, British and American … The entire bottom of a bay dominated by the slopes of Monte Brazil. It is in the port of this city that galleons sailed to the Americas. This is where Vasco da Gama met his brother in 1499, after their first trip to India. The most famous climb is on the Monte Brasil to see one of the most scenic port,  for the least courageous go to the extreme south of the street Sao Joao de Deus, the top of the viola da Memoria. Angra has a museum devoted to its history and that of the archipelago.

Terceira

On Terceira in the village of the same name, you can admire the chapels of the Manueline style of the Renaissance and Gothic Church of São Sebastião dating back to the sixteenth century.

The church of Santa Barbara (Sao Jorge)

Do not miss, Sao Jorge, the church of Santa Barbara, in the village of Manadas. This is the most beautiful of the archipelago with its ceiling tiles and cedar decorated with sculptures naive.

Small beaches with sand with clear colors, creeks, black cliffs, waterfalls on hills that flows to the sea shores draw hectic image on this group of islands where the beaches are quite rare.

The Bay St. Lorenzo (Santa Maria)

First island of the archipelago discovered by the Portuguese, Santa Maria is the least visited of the Azores. It is however known for its beaches with turquoise waters and warm climate.
The Bay St. Lorenzo is a crater that is invaded by the sea which forms a lovely crescent covered with terraced vineyards.
The beaches of Sao Miguel and Faial

Sao Miguel, on the East Coast, after the viewpoint of the Madrugada, down a small road that leads to the beach Lombo Gordo, almost at the foot of the cliffs. Sao Miguel has the longest beaches of the archipelago. Also at Faial with Porto Pim, Praia do Almoxarife and Praia do Norte. The water temperature ranges from 16 to 22 ° C throughout the year.
The pools natural Biscoitos (Terceira)

In the land of Terceira, visit the site of Biscoitos and its natural pools carved into the lava ancient volcanic eruptions.
The Lagoa do Fogo (Sao Miguel)

At the centre of the island Sao Miguel, is lagoa do Fogo, “lake of fire”, provide not only a sublime landscape, colours of green and blue, but also quiet corners, as these sandy beaches are clear and isolated. The lake was formed in the hollow mountains in the centre of the island, following a volcanic eruption of the 16th century.

Trees, shores and hills give highlight of the Azores landscape. On the archipelago, hiking is obvious choice. There are many paths for hiking. The archipelago is also contemplating for hang glider. For fans of of this flights, the islands of Faial, Santa Maria, Terceira and Sao Miguel rent equipment and offer assistance.

The volcano Algar do Carvão (Terceira)

Deep beneath the earth and on the island of Terceira, the volcano Algar do Carvão hides a crater, 45 meters wide, a cylinder in shape, covered with wet moss, whose base is accessible on foot via a tunnel. See also on the island of Terceira: Guilherme Moniz caldera (a crater, 3 km wide at the centre of the island), furnas do Enxofre (smoking geysers in the west) and Biscoitos (clusters of lava pools between rocks on the north coast).

The Wonder of the archipelago: Sete Cidades on the island of Sao Miguel. A volcanic crater 12 km in circumference. At the bottomis a placid transparent waters of the lake with green and blue color. A trail around the crater.

To the west of the island of Sao Miguel, the caldera of Achada das Furnas, a caves, offer a promenade between cavities where sulphurous springs are boiling. These hot springs are used for skin care, provided in the spa town of Furnas.

The volcanic cone of Pico (Pico)

We must make the ascent to the volcanic cone of Pico on the island of the same name. The dirt roads lead you to the summit, 2351 m above sea level. This is the highest point of the Azores and also Portugal. It is also the biggest attraction of the archipelago. It takes seven hours of walking.