Region's Guide

A Short History of Azores

The Azores were discovered and populated by Portuguese settlers in the 15th century during the European's Age of Discovery. They majority of settlers were from the Portuguese mainland, mostly from Algarve and Alentejo and Portuguese Jews that were fleeing the Inquisition. Subsequently, there were waves of immigrants from mainland Portugal, northern France and Flanders. Since then, the Azorean spirit has always been defined by the islands' imposed isolation on its people. This isolation is responsible for the development and preservation of Judaeo-Christian traditions shared by the majority of the population due to the sense of community developed among the few settlers. In addition to religiosity, isolation also brought an unwavering spirit of independence and resilience. Those virtues came to be tested and proved when Terceira Island became the only part of the kingdom of Portugal not to fall into Spanish rule during the Iberian Union (1580-1640).

The Azorean people once again proved their irreverence during the Liberal Wars (1828-1834), having fought against the feudal aristocracy in order to defend the liberal values of the French revolution, having been an indispensable faction of the liberal forces that landed in Mindelo to liberate the Portuguese mainland from the oppression of Absolutism.

In 1911, the first president of the first Portuguese Republic was elected. His name was Manuel de Arriaga and he was born in Horta, Faial Island.

One of the greatest aspects of Portuguese culture is called "saudade", a tricky word best translated as "the longing", the grateful memory of  someone you can no longer reach, a past moment, or something that one is deprived of. Perhaps this is especially true for the Azorean people. Due to the limitations of the local industry, the azorean youth looks for higher education and employability in the mainland or abroad. Many don't return, they can't and they know it. They become trapped in a concrete forest, away from their bucolic life and ways. Leaving the island to explore the world looking for a good living is a very deep and yet unspoken ritual that most islanders go through.

Waves of Azorean emigration occurred, especially to the United States, France, Canada and Brazil, in the twentieth century. In addition to seeking better living conditions, emigration was also a way to flee Estado Novo's dictatorship and war.

Nowadays, the Azores are a center of sustainable and ecological development. Increasingly, they project the image of tourist destination of choice, not only in Portugal, but also abroad, for its natural beauty and intimacy with nature. The Azores are a natural paradise to discover and feel!

The Azorean Islands

Terceira: Known for its main city, Angra do Heroismo. The city was of great importance during the European Discoveries and for that is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractions of the island: Algar do Carvão, Serra do Cume, Fortaleza de São João Baptista.

Graciosa: "The Graceful One" Known for its plains and fertile fields on which cattle feed. As major tourist attractions are the ilhéu da Baleia, Furna do Enxofre and Termas do Carapacho.

São Miguel: São Miguel is known as the "Green Island" due to its vast flora and farm land. São Miguel is the largest island of the Azores and is home to a major part of the archipelago's tourist attractions, including Furnas, Sete Cidades and Lagoas do Fogo. The city of Ponta Delgada is currently the largest urban center in the entire archipelago.

Santa Maria: also Known as the "Golden Island", it is the oldest island in the Azores and is the one where most fossil deposits are found. Este espólio integra a Reserva Natural Regional do Figueiral e da Prainha. Coordena o Centro de Controlo Aéreo do Atlântico. 

Flores: Composed of mountainous terrain and bordered by cliffs, the island of Flores is the westernmost island in the archipelago, already located on the American tectonic plate. This is one of the best known islands of archipelago to foreigners and it owes its name Flores ("Flowers") to the vast number of Hydrangeas that exist in the island. Not to be missed: Fajã Grande, Lagoas Escura e Comprida, Lagoas Funda e Rasa, pedestrian trails.

Corvo: The island of Corvo, originated from a single volcanic structure called Monte Gordo. Monte Gordo crater is named Caldeirão ("Cauldron"), and is the island's biggest tourist attraction. It is the most isolated and less populous island in all of the Azores.

Faial: Defined by the city of Horta, the cosmopolitan center of the archipelago, and its marina, Faial is a reference for sailors from all around the world, who have a tradition of leaving a proof of their passage in the island's port. The biggest tourist attraction is the Capelinhos Volcano.

São Jorge: An island full of small coves that are associated with small villages. Not to be missed: Fajã de Santo Cristo, nature trails.

Pico: It is the second largest island of the archipelago. Pico Mountain is the highest point in Portugal. Its vineyard landscape is recognized as one of the wonders of Portugal and is also considered UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Pico has a great history of whaling properly documented in the island's museum's. 

Useful information for those seeking to visit Azores

1 - The Azorean weather is unpredictable

Don't ask us what the weather will be like next month, next week or even tomorrow, because we genuinely don't know. In Azores weather forecasts are in many ways useless. We live in islands located in the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean, which makes our weather particularly tricky to decipher, even for the most competent professionals, whose predictions can be found on the IPMA website. Do you really want to know what the weather will be like on Pico island? Your best chance is to look at the mountain in the late afternoon. If you are able to see the peak of the mountain, the weather should remain pleasant or improve. However, if the peak is out of sight or may soon be out of sight, no matter how charming those little clouds may be, the weather will most likely get worse. Another omen of bad weather is a beautifully reddish sunset. Sounds like witchcraft, doesn't it? We know, but on Pico Island the weather forecasts can have something of a supernatural touch...

2 - Many bathing areas, few beaches

When people think of the Azores, they think of islands and consequently beaches. While it is true that the Azores have a vast coastline available for use as a bathing area, few of these bathing areas are beaches. These bathing areas tend to be either repurposed old harbors or rocky shores with some minimal cement infrastructure that facilitates access to the sea and allows some comfort for those who seek sun exposure without the negative side of the sand getting inside everywhere. These areas are equally pleasant and reveal the wilderness and volcanic origin of the islands. It is an excellent place for the more adventurous who appreciate nature in its pure state. There are also beaches, but it is not as common as some may believe.

3 - The Azores are not a party capital

The Azoreans celebrate many things, but if your interest is nights filled with loud music and vast dance venues, there are better tourist destinations. The Azores have bars and pubs, but they simply do not have the number of nightclubs with the size or quality needed to qualify as a party destination. Quite honestly, our parties are a good excuse to get drunk, not a good reason. If you don't like what you're reading, you should probably go to Ibiza, or maybe Cancun. People come to the Azores to decompress and be in the middle of nowhere far away from crowds, not to be surrounded by strangers without being able to hear their own thoughts.

4 - Visiting many islands is something difficult and expensive to do

Yes, the Azores archipelago is a beautiful and every single one of its nine islands is absolutely worth visiting, but doing so in just one visit takes a lot of time, money and planning. Considering the price of air travel, the time it takes travelling by boat, not to mention the logistical nightmare of finding a bed to sleep and a car to travel on every island you visit... You'll need to be realistic. This is when Pico's natural beauty is matched by the economic sense of visiting it. São Roque do Pico is the capital of rural tourism, which means many quality accommodation options at a reasonable price. The other advantage is the proximity between Pico and Faial, a mere thirty minutes by boat from Madalena. Pico is also close to São Jorge, just one hour by boat. These islands can each be visited and experienced, albeit to a limited extent, in just one day each. This means that if you travel Pico and can afford sparing two days of that trip, you can visit three islands. With proper planning, you can also visit a fourth island if you return via an airport other than the one you arrived at. Don't get us wrong, Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island is a beautiful city, as are so many things, in S. Miguel, Flores, Graciosa, Santa Maria... However, if you wish to visit a larger portion of the Azores, Pico is the best choice. You'll save time and money.