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The green plaid of the fields. Ripe, yellow crops. The dots of white-washed houses with lace-like chimneys. The black of the artistically chiseled basalt in the facades of churches. The rainbow color of the flowers. The dark ochre of the fertile earth. The gold of the sandy beaches. The palette of hues like a living water-color that is Santa Maria. The joy of folk festivities. The delicacies of a traditional cuisine.

Island interior

Santa Maria is about 55 miles from S. Miguel island (30 minutes by plane). It is the third smallest island of the Azores, known as the yellow island. The surface area is approximately of 38 sq miles (97 km2). The island has about 5500 inhabitants. The municipal seat is located in the parish of "Vila do Porto".

Enlarge Map

Some of the places to visit

Maia and S.Lourenço Bay - Two of the most beautiful bays in the archipelago, with its cliff side vineyards. Both have bathing facilities.

Anjos - The village is historically very significant as the first landfall of Christopher Columbus on his return from Americas.

Santo Espirito - A pretty village surrounded by pastures, with a beautiful parish church.

Praia Formosa - Yellow sandy beach, one of the best in Azores

Some viewpoints

"Fontinhas", "Lagoinhas", "Espigao" and "Picos" and of course "Pico Alto" with 1926 feet (587 m).

Some of the local Festivals

Festas de Santo Antonio (Santo Espirito) - Second week of June

Festas de S.Joao (Vila do Porto) - 23 rd of June

Festas N. Sra da Assuncao (Vila do Porto) - 15th of August

Festival Mare de Agosto (music festival in Praia Formosa) - Third week of August

Directions

How to get there: daily flight connections from S.Miguel and in the summer, ferry connections more or less twice weekly, four hours sailing.