» Cozido das Furnas has a unique flavor because of the way it is cooked – buried in the hot volcanic soil, it stews slowly with the heat of the earth for six hours.  Linguiça with inhames (Linguica with Yams), Lapas - Limpets with Afonso sauce, Chicharros - Blue Jack Mackerel with vilão sauce and Morcelas (Blood sausages) with pineapple are some of the local specialties.

» Sweets – Queijadas da vila (local pastries), Bolos lêvedos (Portuguese muffins) and massa sovada (Portuguese sweet bread).

» Tea - there is a production of green  and black teas in Gorreana and black tea in Porto Formoso. Tea, especially green tea, has in recent years become very popular due to its natural healing properties.

Click here, too see a video on YouTube with Golfing The Azores.

The exact date of S. Miguel Island’s discovery is still controversial. Some say it was between 1426 and 1439, although some geographical maps of mid-14th century already mention the existence of the archipelago. Diogo de Silves did the recognition and identification of S. Miguel Island in 1427 and started to bring people to the island, beginning in Vila Franca do Campo and later on in Ponta Delgada.

The first capital of the island was Vila Franca do Campo, but in 1546 it was replaced by Ponta Delgada, which became the official capital at the mandate of King D. João III and it is still the capital today.

The 19th century  saw much construction, from temples to “solares”, with detailed craftmanhip, like “talha”, painted “azulejos” and “cantaria trabalhada”. This  construction was  in great part due to the wealth created by the orange trade that had England as its main client.

In Ponta Delgada, you can still admire the beautiful churches and palaces of the 16th century, some of which are representative of the “manueline” architecture, a typical Portuguese gothic architectural style.

After the implementation of the Constitution and the rise to power of Queen D. Maria II in the 19th century, the desired peace was obtained and commercial expansion resumed with the introduction of new cultivations, such as pineapples, green tea and tobacco, and the construction of a new port on the city of Ponta Delgada.

Another important highlight of the history of S. Miguel Island was the visit of King D. Carlos and Queen D. Amélia in 1901.

» Rocha da Relva Trail - this narrow trail excavated within the cliff leads us to the “fajã” of Rocha da Relva, where we can observe a great number of typical cellars  by the coast, facing the sea, encircled by small fig-trees, vineyards, and vegetable gardens.

» Furnas Valley, for its singularity and volcanic beauty of bubbling calderas, hot springs of thermal water, a sumptuous lagoon, a very rich flora, and its charming Italianate village.

» Lagoa de Fogo, or Fire Lake situated in Serra de Água de Pau, a magnificent crater lake and untouched paradise in a natural reserve.

» Caldeira Velha, in the middle of the forest, where a grand waterfall spills over a small caldera of orange-colored hot water perfect for a swim, surrounded by splendorous local vegetation.

» Lagoa das Sete Cidades, or Lake of the Seven Cities, located in a big crater, is known for its tranquility and enchantment, as well as for the contrast of colors, with one side of the lake in blue tones and the other in green.

» Vila Franca do Campo was the first capital of the island.  Here, you can visit the ethnographic museum or Santo André Convent, where the nuns sell regional handmade crafts.

» The famous Azorean pineapple is grown in traditional Pineapple Greenhouses in Fajã de Baixo,  Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo.

» Nordeste is a calm and charming village, where you can enjoy the magnificent views of the many vantage points, the fullness of mountains, narrow passes and springs.  In the green meadows of Serra da Tronqueira, you can appreciate the natural habitat of the world’s unique Azorean Bullfinch.  You can visit several forest parks, Ponta da Madrugada belvedere, where you experience a beautiful sunrise, walk around the fishing port and lounge at Lombo Gordo beach.

» Santo Cristo dos Milagres Festivities is one of the biggest celebrations in the archipelago, which takes place this year between April 26 and May 1st.  On Sunday, there are processions around the city center with colored tapestry made of flowers coating the streets, adorning balconies, and where incense fragrances the air among a “sea” of people.

» The Divino Espírito Santo Festivities, from April to June, are the most traditional and meaningful festivals of the archipelago and are lived with fervor in São Miguel, with offers of bread, meat and wine (called “pensões”) to the population.  Fireworks and several religious ceremonies are celebrated throughout the island.

» The Cavalhadas, with Knights dressed in typical costumes, on shining horses that salute Saint Peter on June 29th  in Ribeira Grande. This celebration is full of color, a traditional cultural expression that reminds us of medieval times and the cavalry’s tournaments.

Whale Watching has been widely developed on S. Miguel Island, as the Sperm Whale, dolphins and other cetaceans exist in large numbers and are easily detected close to the coast.  The observation of turtles, sharks, and sea birds also happens frequently.

S. Miguel has several detection points to observe cetaceans, namely in Relva, Água de Pau, Ponta Garça, Capelas, etc, since there are various Whale Watching companies on the island.

» Practice diving in unique settings, such as Feteiras, Ponta da Galera and Ilhéu de Vila Franca.

» Fishing and big game fishing on the Coast of São Miguel Island can provide you with both relaxation and excitement. On some fishing boats, you will be able to fish of sea bass, monkfish, sea eel, blackspot seabream, marbled Mediterranean moray, tuna, swordfish and even sharks.

» Good conditions for sailing, canoeing and windsurfing.