THE AZORES ISLANDS
Just a 4 ½ flight out of Boston and the closest you can get to Europe the nine volcanic islands of the Azores, each with its own unique particularities, are similarly graced with natural beauty — lakes, volcanic cones and craters, stunning vistas and flower-covered landscapes.
Legend has it that the beautiful islands of the Azores are actually the mountaintops of the lost continent of Atlantis. The climate is temperate year-round—perfect for golf, sailing, tennis, hiking and other active pursuits. The island group also has excellent marinas throughout. Golf can be enjoyed on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira.
The islands
• Terceira offers visitors a blend of historic treasures and natural beauty. UNESCO has designated the 16th-century town of Angra do Heroísmo, the capital, as a World Heritage Site. A common sight is cerrados, fields enclosed by black stone walls. The island has an excellent 18-hole golf course and swimming pools created by volcanic rock formations.
• São Miguel is the largest of the Azores. A must-see sight is the island’s 25-square-mile crater holding two lakes, one deep blue and one emerald green. The town of Ponta Delgada features numerous historic buildings. The town of Furnas offers visitors the chance to sample cozido nas caldeiras das furnas, an authentic dish prepared in the traditional manner in which meat and vegetables are stewed in pits in the heat of the volcanic earth.
• Faial, presided over by the volcanic cone of Caldeira, provides excellent deep-sea fishing and is a popular port for yachts and cruise ships.
• Santa Maria is well-known for its excellent water-sports facilities, white-sand beaches, whitewashed houses and historic fortresses.
• Graciosa presents visitors with enchanting16th-century churches and Azorian windmills. The island’s seafood dishes, wines, brandy and angelica have been delighting visitors for centuries.
• São Jorge offers numerous options for nature-lovers, with its picturesque cliffs, lush vegetation and cedar woods surrounding. At Velas, the island’s quaint capital tourists can view 17th-century paintings at the São Jorge Church and gilded wood carvings at the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church.
• Flores offers a full range of water-sport activities, as well as picturesque villages such as Fajãzinha and Fazenda das Lajes. The island is noted for its beautiful, natural landscape, including seven lakes near the island’s center.
• Pico is the site of Portugal’s highest peak (7,775 feet), an extinct volcano also named Pico. Visitors can learn about the Azores’ rich whaling heritage at the Museu dos Baleeiros, which has inspired many of the island’s handicrafts, including scrimshaw.
• Corvo is the tiniest of the Azores. An extinct volcano contains a crater lake with nine tiny islands. A simple but popular Corvo meal consists of delicious handmade cheese and corn bread made with locally grown corn.
Access
The islands of the Azores are linked by inter-island planes and boats, and are accessible from mainland Portugal by frequently scheduled flights (two-hours from Lisbon). Twice-weekly direct flights between Boston and Lisbon include a scheduled stop at Ponta Delgada, São Miguel.
Just a 4 ½ flight out of Boston and the closest you can get to Europe the nine volcanic islands of the Azores, each with its own unique particularities, are similarly graced with natural beauty — lakes, volcanic cones and craters, stunning vistas and flower-covered landscapes.
Legend has it that the beautiful islands of the Azores are actually the mountaintops of the lost continent of Atlantis. The climate is temperate year-round—perfect for golf, sailing, tennis, hiking and other active pursuits. The island group also has excellent marinas throughout. Golf can be enjoyed on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira.
The islands
• Terceira offers visitors a blend of historic treasures and natural beauty. UNESCO has designated the 16th-century town of Angra do Heroísmo, the capital, as a World Heritage Site. A common sight is cerrados, fields enclosed by black stone walls. The island has an excellent 18-hole golf course and swimming pools created by volcanic rock formations.
• São Miguel is the largest of the Azores. A must-see sight is the island’s 25-square-mile crater holding two lakes, one deep blue and one emerald green. The town of Ponta Delgada features numerous historic buildings. The town of Furnas offers visitors the chance to sample cozido nas caldeiras das furnas, an authentic dish prepared in the traditional manner in which meat and vegetables are stewed in pits in the heat of the volcanic earth.
• Faial, presided over by the volcanic cone of Caldeira, provides excellent deep-sea fishing and is a popular port for yachts and cruise ships.
• Santa Maria is well-known for its excellent water-sports facilities, white-sand beaches, whitewashed houses and historic fortresses.
• Graciosa presents visitors with enchanting16th-century churches and Azorian windmills. The island’s seafood dishes, wines, brandy and angelica have been delighting visitors for centuries.
• São Jorge offers numerous options for nature-lovers, with its picturesque cliffs, lush vegetation and cedar woods surrounding. At Velas, the island’s quaint capital tourists can view 17th-century paintings at the São Jorge Church and gilded wood carvings at the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church.
• Flores offers a full range of water-sport activities, as well as picturesque villages such as Fajãzinha and Fazenda das Lajes. The island is noted for its beautiful, natural landscape, including seven lakes near the island’s center.
• Pico is the site of Portugal’s highest peak (7,775 feet), an extinct volcano also named Pico. Visitors can learn about the Azores’ rich whaling heritage at the Museu dos Baleeiros, which has inspired many of the island’s handicrafts, including scrimshaw.
• Corvo is the tiniest of the Azores. An extinct volcano contains a crater lake with nine tiny islands. A simple but popular Corvo meal consists of delicious handmade cheese and corn bread made with locally grown corn.
Access
The islands of the Azores are linked by inter-island planes and boats, and are accessible from mainland Portugal by frequently scheduled flights (two-hours from Lisbon). Twice-weekly direct flights between Boston and Lisbon include a scheduled stop at Ponta Delgada, São Miguel.
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