Azores Nature - A piece of Eden

As a whole, São Miguel Island is still very well preserved, with Nature being the strongest presence, regardless of the tea production or the famous dairy products that the Island provides, such as the wonderful milk and terra nostra’s butter and magnificent cheeses that make very special any table displaying them. The entire architectural ensemble is harmonious, with a particular profusion of flowers that are often used as partitions between properties, as is the case of the intensely colored hydrangeas that search the soil’s iron for its own tonalities.

Undoubtedly, anyone who has traveled the world finding destinations that stand out for their exoticism could not be more surprised than I was in finding such a pristine paradise right at my home’s doorstep. Here, in this archipelago where it is said that even the cows are happy grazing freely in ever green fields, it was magnificent to find a piece of Eden that, for maximum delight, is Portuguese.

Food of São Miguel, Azores - Fascinating tastes of the island

 

At the table, the Island of São Miguel, also dazzles the most demanding tastes. From the furnas stew, to the best bolos lêvedos, the famous São Jorge’s cheese, the tuna steak, the tasty mussel and the freshness of the magnificent freshly caught fish, there is a lot to lose your head over. The best thing to do is to invest in tasting the best that the island has to offer on a culinary level and then to move on to the walking tours in order to digest the extra pounds and be astonished by the views.

Ponta Delgada, Azores - Churches and monuments built with volcanic stone

The whitewashed walls contrasting with the Portuguese pavement of black basaltic rock from Ponta Delgada no longer abandons the memory of those who visit it. In the churches and monuments built with volcanic stone, the history and the memory of its past are kept, evoking the time when it consisted on a simple fishing village, later evolving to a stage of greater development, especially after the great earthquake that devastated the old capital of Vila Franca do Campo, becoming a town and then a city in the reign of the Portuguese King João the 3rd.

Gorreana Tea Factory - Started in 1883, the production of the famous tea is still maintained today

It is also on the Island of São Miguel that we can find the oldest and currently the only tea plantation in the whole Europe. Started in 1883, the production of the famous tea is still maintained today. It was introduced in São Miguel by Jacinto Leite, who brought the precious seeds from Brazil. The strongest production era would happen during the 50’s of the 19th century, later decaying and only surviving one of the factories until today: the famous Gorreana Tea Factory.

Poça da Dona Beija, Azores - Magnificent hot thermal waters

 

Also in São Miguel, the Poça da Dona Beija provides you with that relaxing moment you look forward to on any trip. It is here that you can fully enjoy the magnificent hot thermal waters rich in iron that help combating various health problems, such as anemia. Here, in a true natural paradise, it feels good to let time pass and sense the natural conditions gathered in this place in total well-being and balance with yourself and with Nature.

Caldeira Velha, Azores - The thermal pools with temperatures of around 34ºC

 Caldeira Velha, in Ribeira Grande, is part of an Azorean natural monument where biological diversity is evident, with a succession of thermal pools on the slopes of the Serra da Água de Pau’s forest, the last located on the Lagoa do Fogo regional road. The thermal pools have temperatures of around 34 degrees, being completely irresistible to dip in this waters that bring us back to an environment of high beauty and deep silence, only interrupted by the wonderful waterfall that transports us to a universe where peace and tranquility are absolute rulers.

Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Azores - Emerald colored and overwhelmingly beautiful

Emerald colored and overwhelmingly beautiful, the Lagoa das Sete Cidades is a mandatory stop for anyone visiting the Island of São Miguel. Like the surrounding area, it was classified as Protected Landscape, marked by the scenic beauty which is linked to the origin of several legends, including the myth of Atlantis. It is the largest natural freshwater reservoir on the surface of the entire archipelago, characterized by double coloration of its waters, in blue and green. Although it is the most famous of the whole island it will not be difficult to find other beautiful lagoons of the same tones and which in fact are absolutely fascinating.