The Azores: Europe's Westernmost Point

The vibrant capital of Sao Miguel welcomes visitors through its distinctive trefoil-shaped city gate, leading them along mosaic-patterned cobblestone streets lined with narrow lanes and whitewashed houses adorned with black basalt facades. The historic center of Ponta Delgada is protected by preservation laws, maintaining its architectural charm. In the crater of Sete Cidades, two striking lakes create a breathtaking contrast—Lagoa Azul, a deep sapphire blue, and Lagoa Verde, a vivid emerald green. The landscape unfolds dramatically from the crater’s edge, with ebony sand beaches meeting the Atlantic on one side and turquoise crater lakes nestled among rolling green hills and blooming blue hydrangeas on the other.

Today is all about sailing: climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails. It's time to lean back, relax in the deck chair, and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

Early on, Horta linked the Old World with the New and is the most international place in the archipelago. The port is a hub of activity; almost every yacht that sails across the Atlantic stops at Horta, making it a famous port and the world's most colorful marina. The quay walls are a kind of guest book for skippers where, for centuries, people have immortalized themselves with a painting or inscription. The Azores last proved their volcanic origin in 1957 when the Capelinhos volcano suddenly emerged out of the sea in an eruption. The caldera is two kilometers (1.3 miles) in diameter, and Faial expanded by 2.4 square kilometers (1 square mile). Nowadays, the area is a bizarrely picturesque spot.

Graciosa, the second smallest island in the Azores, has the most unusual natural phenomena in the archipelago. Furna do Enxofre, the huge sulfurous cave in the dark center of the caldera, lets you take a glimpse into the underworld. A large steaming lake, 15 meters (49 feet) deep, stretches across an 80-meter (262-foot)--high volcanic cave and is bewitchingly lit by daylight shining in. On the island's fertile soil, only slightly protected from the wind by walls of lava rubble, cereal crops, fruit, and vines flourish. Red-crested windmills are now the emblem of this charming island.

Praia da Vitoria is located on the Azores' southern coast of Terceira Island, known for its picturesque bay and golden sandy beach. The island is famous for its stunning volcanic landscape, historic towns, and charming villages. Notable highlights include the Sao Joao Baptista Fortress and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angra do Heroismo. Terceira offers a rich cultural history, pristine nature, and many hiking and outdoor opportunities.

Velas, the charming capital of Sao Jorge Island in the Azores, captivates visitors with its historic architecture and scenic landscapes. The town is an ideal starting point for exploring the famous "Fajas," flat coastal plains formed by volcanic activity. In Velas, visitors can savor traditional Azorean cuisine, which is renowned for its cheese and fresh seafood. Numerous hiking trails offering breathtaking views make Velas a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers.

The lively capital of Sao Miguel receives its guests at the trefoil-shaped city gate and invites them in on mosaic-like cobbled pavements through narrow lanes leading to whitewashed houses with black facade decoration made from basalt. A preservation order covers the historic old city of Ponta Delgada. Two large lakes are picturesquely set in the crater of Sete Cidades – the sapphire-blue Lagoa Azul and the emerald-green Lagoa Verde. The view widens out at the edge of the crater and exposes a spectacular panorama. On one side, ebony sand and by the azure Atlantic; on the other side, turquoise crater lakes amidst green rolling hills and blue flowering hydrangea bushes.

The lively capital of Sao Miguel receives its guests at the trefoil-shaped city gate and invites them in on mosaic-like cobbled pavements through narrow lanes leading to whitewashed houses with black facade decoration made from basalt. A preservation order covers the historic old city of Ponta Delgada. Two large lakes are picturesquely set in the crater of Sete Cidades – the sapphire-blue Lagoa Azul and the emerald-green Lagoa Verde. The view widens out at the edge of the crater and exposes a spectacular panorama. On one side, ebony sand and by the azure Atlantic; on the other side, turquoise crater lakes amidst green rolling hills and blue flowering hydrangea bushes.