Description Graciosa

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Graciosa Island, classified by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, is the northernmost island of the five that make up the Central Group of the Azores archipelago. It is known as the White Island, designation inspired by the geomorphological characteristics and toponymic elements of the island, with special emphasis on the names given to places like Pedras Brancas, Serra Branca and Barro Branco.

The island has a municipality, Santa Cruz da Graciosa, consisting of four parishes: Vila de Santa Cruz, Vila da Praia, Guadalupe and Luz. Santa Cruz stands out for its typical houses, for the cobbled streets, branched from the wide square central, where you can see the bandstand, water tanks and araucarias. It is worth visiting the Mother Church of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, the Church of Santo Cristo, Cruz da Barra and the Ethnographic Museum, which brings together pieces related to the culture of wine, with traditions on the island, and whaling. In the village of Praia, the highlight goes to the Church of São Mateus, which has a pipe organ from 1793, one of the most beautiful in the Azores and in Guadalupe, the Church with the same name, dated from the 19th century. XVII.

At Monte Nossa Senhora da Ajuda we have a pleasant panoramic view over Santa Cruz, the northern part of the Island. In this area we can also visit three chapels dedicated to S. João, S. Salvador and Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. The latter is one of the best examples of “fortified religious architecture” in the Azores. It has attached the “pilgrims' house” designed to welcome those who traveled there on pilgrimage.

The architectural heritage of the island is preserved in several types of buildings, with emphasis on churches, chapels, rural houses, and a curious “water architecture” associated with a centuries-old network of reservoirs and drinking water supply systems. Another characteristic feature of the landscape of this island are the windmills with red domes, of Flemish inspiration, which testify to the abundant production of cereals from other times.

Caldeira da Graciosa is the most emblematic landscape element on this island. Classified as a Regional Natural Monument, this large and beautiful crater also includes Furna da Maria Encantada and Furna do Enxofre, true Sanctuaries of Mother Nature.

The climb to Furna da Maria Encantada allows you to appreciate the surrounding landscape and the abundant vegetation planted by man: cryptomeria, acacias, pines and incense cover almost all the walls of the caldera and contrast with the vegetation of other areas of the island. Inside the Caldeira is an imposing volcanic cavity, Furna do Enxofre. Communicating with the outside through two large cracks, it is about 40 m high in its central part. Access is via a tower built in the early twentieth century, with a spiral staircase, with 183 steps. Being one of the most imposing caves in the Azores, it has a lake of cold water and a fumarole with mud, responsible for the smell of sulfur, which refers to its designation and recalls the volcanic origin.

The Picos Timão, the highest point on the island (398 m), and the Facho (375 m), are conducive to relaxing walks among the primitive vegetation, and the Sierras Dormida, Branca and das Fontes offer extraordinary scenery, not only on the island as well as over the vastness of the blue sea, with other Central Group islands - Terceira, São Jorge, Pico and Faial on the horizon.

The islets arranged along the coast of Graciosa add a peculiar beauty to the island. This is the case of Ilhéu da Praia, which houses a diverse population of sea birds, Ilhéu de Baixo, in front of Ponta da Restinga, Ilhéu das Gaivotas, near Carapacho, and Ilhéu da Baleia, located in Ponta da Barca Bay. , so named because of its shape.

In the landscape, the Ponta da Barca Lighthouse stands out, which the inhabitants say is the tallest lighthouse in the Azores.

In Carapacho, we can take a dip in the Natural Pools and relax in the hot and healing waters of the thermal springs.

A walk around the island, stopping at the various viewpoints, completes the album of good memories that we can keep from the graceful landscape of this beautiful island.