Azores

The Azores is an archipelago located in the Atlantic, and is one of Portugal’s Autonomous Regions. The nine islands that constitute the Azores are small, and are dispersed in three groups. They are the islands of Corvo, Flores, Faial, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Terceira, Santa Maria and São Miguel, which is the larger one....

In the era of the portuguese discoveries, the Azores where used for the resting of the crews and the restocking of the ships’ cargo, and this still is evident today, with the abundance of historical ports, and the culture of spices still present. Though all of them are gorgeous, some are more inhabited than others, São Miguel being the best example. In this island there is the town of Ponta Delgada, the capital of Azores, which holds great historical relevance. There is also Santa Maria, the huge Pico, which has the highest mountain in all of Portugal, and Terceira, where the beautiful seaside town of Angra do Heroísmo is located. The islands are noticeably rural. The rainy weather of the region combined with the volcanic soil is great for plant growth, creating a lot of greenery and forest to explore, and making these islands perfect for nature lovers. Besides taking one of the many lovely trails, or hiking in the mountains, you can also venture by boat around the island, and see whales, dolphins and other magnificent creatures. The Azores takes great advantage of the fact that all of the islands are vulcanic, and they have a lot of volcanic activity. In São Miguel, for example, you can find natural hot springs, craters and the Furnas, natural ovens that are used to this day for cooking a big part of the Azores delicacies. They are all marvellous sites to visit, with appropriate caution. If you manage to see the hot springs, try a Furnas Stew, the typical dish the locals cook there, and for the full Azores gastronomical experience try the cheese, liquor and wine.