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Central Islands
GRACIOSA: This island of vineyards and windmills contains the geological curiosity of Furna de Enxofre, a small, warm sulphur lake concealed in a grotto beneath a crater, access to which is via an 80m (270ft) spiral staircase. Graciosa also boasts a subterranean lake (Caldeira), and hot springs in the spa village of Carapacho. Santa Cruz, the major settlement, is an attractive village which converges on a large, irregular square shaded by monkey puzzle trees. It is seen at its best from Monte da Ajuda.
TERCEIRA: A gently rural island, Terceira is known as the ‘Lilac Isle’ because of the distinctive colouring of its sunsets. It is also the home of a specialised kind of bullfight known as Touradas à Corda. Terceira is covered with hydrangeas and azaleas, and along the highways visitors will see the gaily coloured stands that serve as altar stations for the Whitsun procession of the Holy Spirit, one of many festivals on the island. Angra do Heroismo was founded in the 15th century and developed into a major commercial outpost for the Portuguese and Spanish empires. Renowned as one of the most beautiful towns of the age, it has now been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Extending from the harbour is an intricate network of streets, packed with palaces, churches and convents. Biscoitos has natural swimming pools among the rocks.
SÃO JORGE: The island is surrounded by sheer, black cliffs, while a profusion of vegetation covers the steep slopes down to the sea. Cedar woods surround the island’s capital of Velas, which boasts a number of historic buildings including a 17th-century church. São Jorge is the centre for Azores’ dairy produce, especially cheeses.
FAIAL: The name means ‘beech tree’, but it is the strawberry or arbutus that predominates nowadays, while blue hydrangea hedges divide the fields. The coast is indented with sheltered bays. Caldeira is an immense crater carpeted with greenery and has breathtaking views. Horta, the island’s main port, is an important yachting harbour and a popular meeting point for trans-Atlantic yachtsmen. Large cruise liners also dock here.
PICO: This island takes its name from its volcano, Portugal’s highest peak (2351m/7720ft). The hues of the snow-capped cone vary according to the light, from grey at sunrise to fiery red at sunset. The island is renowned for its vineyards that grow the famous verdelho wine of Pico. The largest settlement, Lajes do Pico, was until the 1980s the most important whaling centre on the archipelago. Visitors can discover more about the industry at the local museum and by attending the boating festival (Festa dos Baleeiros) held every summer.
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