Set in the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores are a volcanic chain of nine islands: São Miguel, Terceira, Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, Santa Maria, Flores, and Corvo. Together, they form a region of crater lakes, steep cliffs, and ocean air.
A Fly Through The Azores
“From crater lakes to coastal cliffs, this short video captures the essence of the Azores.”
The Islands
Each island has its own personality:
- São Miguel – The largest of the nine, a place of green hills and steaming earth. At Sete Cidades, twin lakes fill a vast crater; in Furnas, hot springs bubble beneath the ground. Even tea grows here, thanks to the volcanic soil and ocean mist.
- Pico –Pico is home to Portugal’s tallest peak, a perfect cone that watches over an island of wine and rock, with dark stone walls that stretch across the land, sheltering the vines from the wind.
- São Jorge – Long and narrow, with ridges that cut the horizon. Villages cling to the edges, while deep inside, caves and pastures give way to the island’s pride: a sharp, buttery cheese unlike any other.
- Faial – Known to sailors the world over, its marina is painted with murals left by passing crews. Beyond the harbor, the land tells a story of fire and ash, where the Capelinhos volcano reshaped the coast within living memory.
- Graciosa – True to its name -which means graceful in english, this island boasts nature, rolling fields, windmills, and an underground lake hidden inside a volcanic cavern. Life here feels quieter, slower, touched by tradition.
- Terceira – A place of festivals and color, from the pastel façades of Angra do Heroísmo to the traditions that spill into the streets each summer. History feels alive here, threaded into every celebration.
- Flores – Named for its wildflowers, but remembered for its waterfalls—countless streams cascading down green cliffs into clear blue pools. Remote, untamed, unforgettable.
- Corvo – The smallest island, with one village and a single road. At its heart lies the Caldeirão, a vast crater lake where silence feels almost sacred.
- Santa Maria – The oldest and warmest island boasts golden beaches, fossils in the cliffs, and history.
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Flavors of the Azores
The Azores are a place where food is deeply tied to the land and the sea. A place where flavors define a lifestyle.
- Cozido das Furnas – A stew of meats and vegetables buried underground, slow-cooked for hours by volcanic heat.
- Grilled limpets (lapas) – Pulled from the rocks at low tide, brushed with garlic and butter, eaten hot and briny.
- Azorean pineapples – Grown in glass greenhouses, small and golden, with an intense sweetness unlike anywhere else.
- Passionfruit and guava – Tropical notes that flourish in the island climate, turned into jams, liqueurs, and desserts.
- Seafood stews – Octopus, fish, and shellfish simmered in tomato and wine, often cooked in clay pots.
- Sweet breads – Folar and massa sovada, soft and slightly sweet, baked for Easter and celebrations.
The cheeses produced on the islands are a category of their own.
- São Jorge Cheese is a DOP-protected cheese made from raw cow’s milk, aged for at least three months, with a sharp, nutty profile.
- Ilha Azul Cheese comes from the island of Faial. It’s a smooth, mild cheese with a golden rind—named after Faial’s nickname, the Blue Island.
The Azores are the kind of place where time slows down, the landscapes are layered, and the best memories are made off the beaten path.
