Description Ilha de São Miguel

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The island of São Miguel is the largest in the Azores, forming the Eastern Group of the Archipelago together with the island of Santa Maria, located 81 km away.

Its settlement began in 1444 in Povoação and then in Vila Franca do Campo, the island's first capital, later transferred to Ponta Delgada, currently also the seat of the Regional Government of the Azores.

Perched around a natural bay, the city of Ponta Delgada has a rich history and built heritage. Portas da Cidade are the perfect starting point for exploring the city, quickly identified by its three arches that connect the marginal area and Praça da República. Pay attention to typical architecture. Its most emblematic monuments are the mother church of São Sebastião, from the 15th century, the Church of São José and São Pedro, the Convent and Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (this is where the image of Senhor Santo Cristo is venerated dos Milagres), the former Jesuit College, the Sant'Ana Palace (where the Presidency of the Regional Government is installed), the Carlos Machado Museum, the São Brás Fort, the Paços do Concelho, and the renovated Coliseu Micaelense and the well-maintained Teatro Micaelense, among others.

On a maritime walk to the Marina, we find the “Portas do Mar” where, in addition to the cruise pier, we can enjoy an oceanic pool and an area with several bars and enjoy very pleasant moments of leisure.

We started the climb to the emblematic Lagoa das Sete Cidades, reaching the “Vista do Rei” viewpoint. From here, where we can admire all the beauty of the giant crater in the background of which the Green and Blue lagoons coexist, twinned by a bridge of arches, which, according to legend, originated in the tears of a princess and a shepherd united by an impossible love. But in São Miguel live the great Lagoons of the Azores, and for that reason the charm continues right next door in Lagoas Santiago, Rasa, Canário, Mares, Empadadas, Caldeirão grande and do coal.

From there, we headed towards Ponta da Ferraria, where Mother Nature took charge of heating the sea water with volcanic thermal waters, offering Atlantic thalassotherapy in a unique natural environment or, if we prefer, in the modern Termas da Ferraria. A little further on, we arrive at the Monasteries, where it is worth admiring the bay and the four islets that gave the town its name. Ponta da Bretanha marks the turning point for the north coast route, where we will find the city of Ribeira Grande, the second largest on the island of São Miguel, built on a small hill around the Church of Nossa Senhora da Estrela and dos Paços do Concelho, with beautiful manor houses, windmills, churches and gardens, and also the complex of Municipal Pools of Poças, right by the sea.

With Lagoa do Fogo as the next stop, we head towards the interior of the island, going up the Água do Pau mountain range, and stop at Caldeira Velha. Its small lake of warm waters, surrounded by a leafy forest of ferns, invites you to a restful bath! When we arrive at Lagoa do Fogo, one of the ex-libris of the island, we let ourselves be dazzled by its different shades of blue and by the breathtaking view that extends to the ocean.

We descend towards Lagoa where we can visit the Fábrica de Cerâmica with its typical crockery, and further on to Caloura, with its picturesque artisanal fishing port “protected” by the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, with its Convent and its cove, which invite you to a restful stop. In Vila Franca do Campo, we must visit the Ilhéu da Vila, a Nature Reserve with a beautiful pool about 1 km from the coast, accessible from June to September via boat connections from the Tagarete pier, and to taste the famous Queijadas da Vila. Near this village, Lagoa do Congro, is worth a visit.

In the Furnas area, Vale das Furnas, with its fumaroles (boilers), hot water, mud, medicinal waters and more than twenty thermal springs that make it one of the largest hydropoles in the world. Poça da Beija is known for its crystal clear water pools and toning mud. Next to Lagoa das Furnas, the chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias and the area where "cooked in the boilers" is made, taking advantage of the earth's heat. Parque Terra Nostra, one of the most beautiful gardens of São Miguel in the century. XVIII. And to admire the view, the viewpoints of Pico do Ferro and Salto do Cavalo.

Back on the coast, we can go to Ribeira Quente with its warm waters Praia do Fogo or head straight towards Vila da Povoação, surrounded by its seven hills. From here we enter the municipality of Nordeste, where the relief is more rugged and steep, which invites you to explore the different walking trails that exist here. Its very well maintained and flowery viewpoints require several stops, for example, at the viewpoints of Ponta da Madrugada, Ponta do Sossego, Salto da Farinha and Ponta do do Estorninho ...