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Despite their definition as part of Europe, if you are planning a trip to the Azores (Azores) don't expect to meet the classic Europe you are used to. It is not the same place, not the same people, not the same sea, not the same culture and not the same landscapes. How can it be? simple.
Azores Islands They are actually an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in total, which appeared as if out of nowhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In this sense it is difficult to compare them even to an archipelago Madeira the Portuguese, or to the Spanish Canary Islands. The Azores Archipelago is located one third of the way between Europe and North America. It lies about 1,500 kilometers west of the coast of Portugal, and about 4,000 kilometers from the coast of America. They were discovered by one of Enrique the Spaniard's crew in the fifteenth century (in the "age of discoveries"), who set out from the Algarve in southern mainland Portugal, who gave them their name after the hawks they found there (Acor is hawk in Portuguese). Today they constitute a Portuguese autonomy, and this is the official language in them.
The official capital of the islands is Punta Delgada (whose name means Thin Cape - thin cape), located on the island Sao Miguel. However, due to the dispersion of the inhabitants in the archipelago, it actually has three capitals. The other two are Angra do Heroismo on the island of Terceira, andHorta on Payal Island. In each of the three capitals is one of the three governing authorities.
Although many come to the Azores mainly for their stunning landscapes, these islands have a lot to offer history and culture buffs. The first human settlement on the islands began ten years after the discoveries, in 1437. Since then, the population of the island has gone through many upheavals, the island became an important point for ship voyages in the Atlantic Ocean, volcanoes erupted and more. It is recommended to devote at least one day to learning about the history of the island and the human settlement on it, which started relatively late compared to other places in the world.
This is the name of a volcano located on the island of Faial, whose eruption permanently changed the surface of the island, between September 1957 and October 1958. The eruption covered part of the island in lava, and also led to the creation of another "island" adjacent to Faial, connected to Faial by a narrow isthmus. This outbreak, although it did not cause any casualties, forced 1,800 of the island's residents to evacuate, and most of them moved to the US.
Visitors to the island today will be able to stand on land created by lava, a place where until a few decades ago there was only water. In addition, you will see roofs covered in ash and ruins that have not been evacuated to this day. The best way to learn about the event and the Kapelinhas volcano is through the local museum, which was built inside a lighthouse that was put out of use following the eruption and converted into a museum.
The experience of arriving at Kaplinhus is different from anything you can see in the pictures. Nature claimed ownership of the place in the most decisive way, although to everyone's happiness no one was killed in the incident.
Although there are several places within it that are worth a visit, this capital of the Azores is also worth a visit in itself. This is a city that is entirely a world heritage site (recognized by UNESCO), due to the great importance it had during the Age of Discovery of the fifteenth century (and after). In practice, until steamships were introduced in the middle of the nineteenth century, every ship that made The transatlantic route had to anchor for refueling and replenishing supplies at this port on the island of Terceira. The meaning of the city's name, "Bay of Valor," hints at what happened there over the centuries of its existence.
The city is characterized by architecture from the 17th century onwards, and you will find many fortifications. The fortifications testify to the important position of the city in terms of trade and maritime traffic, starting from the fifteenth century. You will find here a stunning amount of palaces, forts, monasteries and other fascinating buildings, which will allow you to fill a few days of your trip with fun.
In accordance with the status of Angra do Heroismo as one of the three capitals of the Azores, and the main and only capital in the past, it is home to both the Supreme Court of the archipelago, and the most important religious institutions in it - Diocese (diocese, "bishops" in Hebrew). If you only have a short time, a wander around the city will leave you speechless. A nice place to get an impression of the city's character is the bishops' street (Rua da Sè). The unique paving patterns of the street, as well as the traditional colorful houses, will give you a bit of the atmosphere of the place and make you want to stay.
This impressive palace, located in Angra do Heroismo, was built at the end of the 16th century, meaning the end of the Renaissance and the beginning of the Baroque period. It certainly inspires, in its size and design, so it is no wonder that many of the important personalities and institutions of the archipelago have chosen it as their seat. It became the seat of the first unified government of the islands, after the Jesuit order that had ruled it for a long time was expelled from them in the early eighteenth century.
In a later period, the kings of Portugal Peter IV and Carlos I lived in the palace, and today it serves as the official residence of the president of the autonomous government of the archipelago. In addition, the palace is currently used as a museum, where you can optimally learn about the complex and interesting history of the Azores. Throughout the decorated rooms and halls you will find paintings and frescoes, intricate carpets and well-designed ceilings, and the explanations will be provided by the audio guide, which you will receive at the entrance to the museum.
You can find the palace at the address - Rua do Palacio 9700-143, Angra do Heroismo.
It is the central and oldest civic gathering place in the Angra do Ruizmo. It was designed in the sixteenth century, and over the years it has been surrounded by many beautiful buildings painted white or other bright colors. The most impressive sight among these buildings is that of the town hall, built in a neo-classical style. Today the building is the home of the Supreme Court of the Azores, located in Angra do Heroismo as one of the capitals of the archipelago.
Despite the fact that it is an urban building and not a tourist site, you can definitely ask the receptionist to conduct a short independent tour of the place. You can tour the courtroom (obviously assuming it is not in use) and the ceremonial halls decorated in a pleasant old-fashioned style, and bask in the stained glass windows that adorn the building.
In accordance with the position of Angra do Heroismo as the capital of the Azores at that time, and considering the great importance of it in terms of traffic and trade in the Atlantic Ocean, it is no wonder that in the early stages of the settlement fortifications and defense structures were erected there. The fort of John the Baptist is one of these, built during the Spanish rule over Portugal between the end of the 16th century and the middle of the 17th century. This is the largest fortress built during the time of Philip II, King of Spain at that time.
The fort is built of five cumulative kilometers of walls, and its numerous fortifications and defenses against artillery will impress you greatly. It is a sophisticated and strategic structure, built according to the most advanced principles and means of the period. The entrance to the fort is made through a particularly large and impressive bridge and gate, which will lead you to a central square called the Army Square (Parca de Armas). There you will also find important buildings from those years, such as the governor's house and a baroque church.
For anyone interested in the human history of the Atlantic Ocean in general, and of the Azores archipelago in particular, this museum is a must-see. In the XNUMXs, the museum was moved to the former monastery named after Saint Francis (Convento do Sao Francisco), which also includes other parts that still meet their original purpose (for example, a particularly large church).
The museum presents an incredible variety and richness of exhibits, dealing with all aspects of the settlement in the Azores. You will find exhibits dealing with the early settlement in the archipelago, their military history, the traditional culture of the inhabitants, who, despite being Europeans, lived for centuries in a manner different from the rest of the continent, the religious traditions and the ways of trade. Items here include clothing, carriages, uniforms, weapons, art, statues, furniture and more. One visit to this museum will make your trip to the Azores much more informed, as your understanding of the history and culture of the archipelago will expand immeasurably.
You can find the museum at Ladeira de São Francisco, 9700-181 Angra do Heroísmo.
Punta Delgada is the official capital of the Azores since 1976, and is the autonomous administrative center of the archipelago. It is located in the south of the largest island in the Azores, Sao Miguel, and is also the city with the largest number of inhabitants in the archipelago. Despite the fact that it became the capital of the islands only at the end of the twentieth century, it is not a young city at all. The settlement in Ponte Delgada began only a few years after the one in Angra do Heroismo, in 1444. It later received the royal status of an independent city, and its position went up and down for centuries, until it was crowned as the capital of the Azores.
The island of Sao Miguel is known for its abundant vegetation, which led to it being called the "green island". Within it lies Punta Delgada, which is an urban island within it. It is full of historical buildings, including a sixteenth-century fortress (see below), monuments that appear on postcards all over the world, and more. In addition, from the port of the city you can go on a cruise that will expose you both to the views of the island, and to the animals that inhabit the area.
This three-arched gate is one of the central symbols of Punta Delgada, appearing on many of its postcards. It is in the Sao Sebastiano neighborhood.
The gate was part of the city's defense and fortification system, and was built in 1783. Originally it was built next to the wharf touching the water, but it was moved to its current location after the boulevard adjacent to the wharves was built in the XNUMXs and XNUMXs. Today it resides in honor in Goncalo Velho Cabral square. The gate is built from the local volcanic stone, and is painted entirely white, emphasizing the proximity to the sea.
The square on which the gate stands is characterized by Portuguese paving in complex patterns (oil in Portuguese - Calcada Portugesa), which you can see in many of the Portuguese alleys, both in the Azores archipelago and in mainland Portugal.
Similar to other important cities in the Azores (such as Angra do Heroismo), Punta Delgada also had to face many threats that came to it from the sea. A massive wall was built for the city, and the fortress of Sao Bras was an important component of the city's fortifications.
The fort was built in the middle of the sixteenth century, a little before the Spanish rule over Portugal and the Azores. It protects the western part of the port of Porta Delgada, and is actually used by the Portuguese Navy to this day. Although it underwent a massive renovation in the nineteenth century, the fort still preserves the atmosphere of the ancient period in which it was built, when Punta Delgada was vulnerable to attacks by foreign naval forces and pirates.
When you arrive at the fort, you can walk around it and see cannons and more modern artillery placed on the walls. In addition, in the area of the fort where you can walk around, there is also a small museum of the Portuguese Navy, suitable for those who are interested in the subject. In the museum you will find weapons
Horta is the capital of the island of Faial and the surrounding islands, and is also the constitutional capital of the Azores, along with Punta Delgada and Angra do Heroismo. Due to its western location in the central group of islands of the archipelago, Horta was in the past and is now a very important point in the transatlantic traffic, both by sea and by air. The city's marina is one of the busiest in the world, as most of the ships and yachts sailing in the Atlantic Ocean anchor there, at least for a while. In the past, the city was an important center for whaling ships. Today, happily, the many ships that go to the whales' living areas in the ocean do so only to watch them, and not to kill them.
Due to its rich history (it is the same age as the other capitals of the Azores), Horta is an excellent destination for a trip. Due to the modest size of the island of Payal where it sits, you can travel around it and the entire island in one day's trip, and complete a significant part of it.
Horta has several unique features, which make it worth a visit on its own. The University of Horta attracts students from all over the region and the world, making it one of the cities with the youngest atmosphere in the Azores. Its busy marina, filled all year round with multitudes of boats and yachts of all sizes, is a colorful and spectacular sight. The volcanoes visible from it and the sea adjacent to it create a feeling of an island in the middle of nature, and more.
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