Açores

Once a remote archipelago, the Azores are now easily accessible by plane. The Azores are the result of 20 million years of volcanic activity. The islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria, Graciosa, Terceira, Pico, São Jorge, Faial, Flores and Corvo, which are among the youngest on Earth, emerged above the waves less than five million years ago, with a landscape that speaks of its past. Its genesis brought abundant natural resources to the islands. Thermal springs, good building materials and fertile land result from its volcanic activity.

The archipelago is best known for its spectacular scenery, for the abundant flora and peaceful life. Much less remote and wild than before, the islands are now visited by tourists who enjoy hiking, sailing and seclude since each island offers different and varied possibilities.

The nine islands of the archipelago include the following counties: Vila do Porto, Lagoa, Nordeste, Ponta Delgada, Povoação, Ribeira Grande, Vila Franca do Campo, Angra do Heroísmo, Praia da Vitória, Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Calheta, Velas, Lajes do Pico, Madalena, São Roque do Pico, Horta, Lajes das Flores, Santa Cruz das Flores, Vila do Corvo. 

Crafts

The Azorean crafts are a vivid picture of everyday life in the archipelago, consisting of islands where agriculture and fishing are the main activity. From the sea people get raw material for their work with shells and fish scales, transformed into delicate flowers. Fields are the inspiration to transform corn leaves into dolls and the fig branches’ core into flowers.
Although each island has its forms of artisan expression, in the Azores is also worth mentioning the colorful ceramics from Lagoa de São Miguel, embroideries with traditional motifs and lace from São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Pico, handloom bedspreads common in São Jorge and Terceira and the typical wire guitars.

To visit

São Miguel – Sete Cidades, Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo

Santa Maria – São Lourenço Bay

Terceira – Angra do Heroísmo and Algar do Carvão

Graciosa – Santa Cruz and Furna do enxofre

São Jorge – Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo and Ponta dos Rosais

Faial – Horta, Caldeira and Capelinhos Vulcano

Pico – Rise to Pico

Flores – Rocha dos Bordões, Sete Lagoas and Poço da Alagoinha

Corvo – Caldeirão and Vila do Corvo