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Market browsingBrowsing and shopping local outdoor markets is a local pastime # HikingLagoa do Congro - The Azores have numerous hiking trails # Yoga in the parkParque Urbano (Ponta Delgada) - Yoga hour. # Wind SportsFrom paragliding to sailing the Azores is ideal for wind sports # Bike ridingThe Azores are a bike riding friendly place # Hiking and WalkingHiking and Walking are a local pastime # Whale and Dolphin WatchingCetaceans can be observed in many island of the Azores. You may swim among dolphins if you feel adventurous # Bird WatchingThe Azores is popular with bird watchers # S. Miguel is the island with the greatest range of activities due to its rank as the biggest island in the Azores. The island offers a natural green stage filled with beaches, lakes, mountains and a terrain made for outdoor activities. Two world class 18-hole golf courses, tennis clubs, rowing, windsurfing, hang lighting, scuba diving, surfing, climbing, fishing and many more activities wait to be explored. All this can be had under a reinvigorating climate and an unique scenery of green and. Lakes and streamsS. Miguel streams flow between densely forested ravines with transparent water reflecting the verdant banks. One can catch the combative trout and carp, red gurnards and achigãs. The streams of Praia, Alegria, Bispos, Faial da Terra, Guilherme, Machado, Caideiroes, Coelhas, Salga, Carneiros, Limos and Grande offer trout that challenge the skill of any fisherman. The lake called Lagoa das Sete Cidades is rich in perch, carp and pike. In Lagoa do Fogo trout and carp abound, while Lagoa Rasa and São Bras are home to the achiga. In Lagoa das Furnas it is possible to catch trout, perch, carp, red gurnards and sandre. Underwater lifeS. Miguel features warm, transparent water with spectacular cliffs, valleys and craters. A rich and varied flora and fauna where the dusky perch swims past the dolphin and the tortoise past the ray while unending shoals of fish pass by, sure attractions for those who are keen on diving and underwater observation. In S. Miguel one can find thousands of tiny paradises along the coast where they can appreciate all the charms of the sea, by day or by night. Privileged areas for underwater observation are Ponta da Galera, the coast in the Feteiras area and the islets of Vile Franca and Mosteiros. A ship called the Dori is sunk next to the port of Ponta Delgada at a depth that allows it to be visited. Sea and fishingThe indented coast of S. Miguel and the wealth and variety of fish make São Miguel a paradise for those who are keen on rock fishing. The main species caught are barracuda, red bream, bluefish bream, conger eel, garfish, trigger fish, jack grevalle, mackeral, moray eel and common sea bream. Many fishing grounds are famous, the most interesting being those located at Ponta Deigada, Ponta das Freiras, Ferraria, Mosteiros, Ponta da Bretanha, Porto das Capelas, Poços de São Vicente, Rabo de Peixe, Ponta and Porto da Ribeira do Nordeste, Agua Retorta and Faial da Terra. The existence of depths of 300 to 800 meters a short distance off the roast (2 to 3 km) makes it possible with the use of a boat to fish for barracuda, oceanic bonito, bluefish bream, dolphin, amberjack and several species of tuna. Of course it is the large and combative sword fish, oceanic bream, pecos, several kinds of tuna and shark, etc. that supply opportunity for thrilling struggles to keen sports fishermen Several record catches have already been made. Ponta Delgada has specially equipped boats for this purpose and they cruise as far as the Formigas islets. Events
IRC Rally AzoresS. Miguel island is part of the IRC car rally circuit happening annually # Senhor Santo CristoArguably the biggest religious festivities in Azores, happens annually on the fifth weekend after Easter # Bull Fights (bull on rope)People waiting for bull - Typical of Terceira island it happens in many places throughout the island from May to September # Limas water battlesPonta Delgada - Traditional battle of limas happens during carnival # Flower street carpetsTraditional flower carpets adorn the way for processions in religious festivities # Festival of lightsConvento da Esperanca - One of the highlights of religious festivals are the amazing light displays # Street VendorsSelling the typical tremoco (lupinus) and candy /__404__ CarouselAlways a hit with young and old carousels are part of the festivities fabric # Festivals of Senhor Santo Cristo - Ponta DelgadaThe most important religious festivities in S. Miguel and, as far as number of people participating, the biggest festival in the Azores islands are held on the fifth Sunday after Easter. The festivities known as Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres (Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles) date back to the end of the 17th century with the fame of the miracles obtained through the intercessors of the Senhor Santo Cristo (Lord Holy Christ), whose image is venerated in the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Esperanca. The endless procession, which comprises of thousands of faithful who come mostly from every island in the Azores and the Azorean communities spread throughout the world, dates from that period, and nowadays still follows the same itinerary which covers a large part of Ponta Delgada. At festival time the town is decorated with arches and other fascinating illuminations. The streets where the procession is to pass are covered by painstakingly decorated carpets of artistically laid out flowers. The blessing of the bread and meat distributed among the needy on Saturday, marks the start of the festivities, followed on Sunday by the procession with the image under its famous baldachin decorated with flowers. To the devotion shown by the faithful must be added the conviviality and joy of the profane part of the festivities, complete with fireworks and music played by dozens of bands. Ponta Delgada is transformed into a town full of color and animation during the six days the festival lasts. Festas do Espirito Santo - Holy Ghost FestivalsOf Medieval origin (13th A.D.) they are one of the most traditional expressions of devotion. In S. Miguel Holy Ghost (Espirito Santo) festivals are held on Sundays from April to June. Presenting different characteristics from island to island and from village to village, the festivals common features are the coronation of the "emperor", the feast day on which the offerings of bread meat and wine, called "pensions", are distributed among the needy and the "brothers" of the "empire" and the "jesters" who, with their musical instruments and songs recall age-old customs. The most colorful festivals of the Holy Ghost take place at Rabo de Peixe, with ox-carts decorated with fanciful ornaments made of colored paper, and at Ribeira Grande, where girls march in a procession carrying trays on their head with the "pensions" of the "brothers" of the Holy Ghost. Romeiros - The Lenten pilgrimsDuring the seven weeks of Lent, groups of men walk round Sao Miguel in a chanting meditative state led by a "master" stopping only to pray next to the churches and chapels dedicated to Our Lady. Eight days later they return to their home villages, where they are received by the local inhabitants of the parish and where a festival is held in their honor. Cavalhadas - St. Peter's cavalcades - Ribeira SecaRibeira Grande and Ribeira Seca are a stage for the Cavalhadas (St. Peter’s Cavalcates). A "king" or headman, knights, lance's, stewards and trumpeters dressed in white, with red capes and sashes, mounted on splendid horses, ride through the streets in the morning of St. Peter's day, June 29th, repeating ceremonies whose origin is lost in time and which recall the tournaments of knighthood. A colorful spectacle which heads toward the centre of the town of Ribeira Seca and has its culminating point at the church of São Pedro when the "king" greets the saint in verse and makes his horse place its front hoofs on the door of the church. Senhor dos Enfermos - Procession of Our Lord of the Sick – FurnasThe streets, covered with petals laid out in artistic designs, are the scene of the procession. The carpets of petals display all the hues of the flowers of the Azores. The procession is held on the first Sunday after Easter. São Miguel - St. Michael's or Labor Procession - Vila Franca do CampoA throw-back to the Middle Ages, this procession features groups of craftsmen where each profession gathers around the litter bearing their patron saint. The colors of the surplices worn by the participants define their profession. This splendid and long procession takes place on the Sunday following the 8th of May. Festival of Bom Jesus da Pedra – Good Lord of the Stone - Vila Franca do CampoThe outcome of this festival is when the image of the Bom Jesus (Good Jesus) is carried Saturday evening to the church of Sao Miguel. It is returned in procession to the church of the Misericordia on Sunday of the last weekend in August. Gastronomy
Sopas FeastsTraditional Holy Ghost Sopas from Santa Maria # Dill & MintDill is specific of Santa Maria. Mint is used in all Sopas # Lining up for SopasLong lines demonstrate the popularity of Sopas feasts # Sopa BowlSopas a tradition shared in every Azorean community # Biscoitos (cookies)Making biscoitos de orelha # Sopa plateThe famous sopa plate # In S. Miguel, the traditional old recipes remain alive in succulent dishes such as caldo azedo (a kind of soup), couves solteiras (prepared with cabbages). fervedouros, polvo guisado em vinho de cheiro (octopus stewed in local wine), torresmos em molho de figado (rashers of bacon with liver sauce), caldeiradas de peixe (fish stews), arroz de lapas (limpets with rice), ensopado de trutas (trout stew) and lapas de molho Afonso (limpets with a tasty sauce). To these must be added the curious cozido prepared at Furnas, where the pot containing meat and vegetables is buried in the soil wrapped in a cloth bag so that the volcanic heat can do its work... and several hours later it is ready to delight the palate with its rich flavour. Lobster, cavaco, crabs and the strange goose barnacles, hidden in the holes they carve in the rocks, satisfy the needs of shellfish lovers. When it comes to cheese, S. Miguel can offer a smooth white fresh variety made from goat's milk and the famous queijo da ilha, made from cow's milk and with a piquant flavour when dry. The old conventional recipes for desserts are the delight of people with a sweet-tooth. Examples are the queijadas (cheese-cakes) of Vila Franca do Campo, the concertos of Ribeira Grande, the bolo levedo of Furnas as well as the barriga-de-freira, massa sovada, bichos de amendoa and compota de capucho (a jam made from the small fruit of a herbaceous plant). The Caloura region produces a wine called vinho de cheiro or morangueiro, which is light and has a characteristic flavour. The liqueurs made from passion-fruit and pineapples are agreeable ways of concluding a meal. Pineapples and TeaOne of the curious things about S. Miguel is the green-houses for pineapples, which produce flavorsome, sweet fruit all year round for markets in many European countries. The main concentrations of green-houses are situated in the areas of Faja de Cima, Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo. Tea, that delicious beverage brought from China, is also produced on plantations that attract attention because of the unusual and charming sight of the green tea bushes covering hills and dales, divided into fields by hedges of araucarias and Japanese cedars. Tea growing got under way in the late l9th century and in 1878 two Chinese came to São Miguel to teach the islanders the complex tasks involved in its preparation. The main plantations are located at Gorreana, next to the old Chapel of Senhora do Resgate. Handicraft
Clay workClay and Wicker are art forms that span centuries in Azores # BonecosBonecos are figurines made of straw and cloth # Wicker workWicker is used for many uses. More traditional for basket weave. # Clay artisanAzores ceramics industry is world renowned # Mantle weavingSanta Maria mantle weaving # The repetition of old patterns and shapes and the use of local raw materials characterizes the handicraft of S. Miguel. Mats made from leaves of maize and flag, colorful dolls of maize husks representing picturesque figures in their regional costumes, artificial flowers made from fish scales, paper, cloth and feathers and wickerwork are examples of the works of art that come from practiced and skilful hands. To which must be added the linen embroideries, the hand woven counterpanes with squares, lozenges and colorful fluting and the woolen caps worn by the shepherds. The pottery tradition in S. Miguel originated when the first inhabitants brought with them the art of clay modeling. Pottery making already has a centuries-old tradition at Vila Franca do Campo, which once had dozens of potteries in operation using clay brought by sail boats from the island of Santa Maria. Today only a few potters reproduce with their wheels the traditional shapes of bows, trays, pots, pitchers, fanciful and elegant jars and the excellent miniatures that attract collectors. Lagoa, a pottery centre that was born in the middle of the l9th century, soon gained great fame beyond the horizons of the Azores for the decoration shapes and glazing of its pieces, The skill and art of its potters goes far beyond the utilitarian and includes statuettes and figurines, decorative vases and glazed tiles. San Miguel has a strong tradition in spinning and weaving, as all the other islands have as well. The antique weaver's looms are still used to create fabulous quilts, blankets, panels and tapestry all in the traditional colors. Local Products
FlowersAzores flowers for all tastes # Pineapple of S. MiguelPineapples are grown in green houses and are only a product of S. Miguel # MeatsIn Terceira, for example, cows outnumber people 2:1, thus the abundance of dairy and meat # FishFish, abundant and varied, is an essential ingredient in the Azorean diet # Cheese - A SpecialtyCheese from S. Miguel, S. Jorge, Faial and Pico are world renowned # VegetablesA variety of vegetables can be found in the Azoes including the local inhame (yam) # The most popular products in S. Miguel revolve around pottery, ceramics, embroidery, cheese and pineapple. |
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