Visit Portugal - Refuges in the Azores

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Refuges in the Azores /

Natural surroundings that have remained unspoilt and unchanged by the ravages of time, where lush green vegetation contrasts with volcanic formations and the blue of the sea. The nine volcanic islands that form the archipelago of the Azores offer you an irresistible week of romance.

Idyllic landscapes, with enormous two-tone lakes, immense valleys and fields brightly decorated with hydrangeas, the islands of the Azores are the perfect refuge for two people in love.

On the island of São Miguel, be sure to stroll through the volcanic landscape of Vale das Furnas and don’t forget to enjoy a swim in the lake’s warm water. And why not sample the famous “cozido das Furnas”, a stew that is cooked in pans buried in the ground? At Lagoa das Sete Cidades, you can’t fail to be moved by the love stories that are frequently told here, and you’ll certainly enjoy the sunset seen from the top of the Serra da Tronqueira.

On the island of Faial, go for a boat ride and photograph whales and dolphins, or take a trip over the almost lunar landscape of the Capelinhos volcano, which emerged from the ocean in 1957.

As night begins to fall, relax in Peter’s Café, the famous bar where you can experience all the colour and excitement of the marina of Horta, a frequent port of call for boats crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

You should also include in your programme a visit to the islands of São Jorge and Pico, each of them only 30 minutes from Faial. On São Jorge, you’ll have the chance to sample the island’s famous cheese and admire the peculiar fajãs (seemingly flat surfaces on the sea) lying at the foot of high cliffs. On the island of Pico, visit the vineyards planted in fields of lava, which have been classified by UNESCO as world heritage, and don’t leave without tasting the local wine that was once famous in the court of the Tsars.

Vineyard of Pico island / More than any mere island, Pico seems a statue to the heavens. Thus does it emerge from the Atlantic deep.	Gastronomy of the Azores / The gastronomy of the Azores features fish and shellfish, including species unique to Portugal.	Azores lakes / Sites of calm tranquillity in amongst the greenery and flowers, crater lakes and lagoons of breathtaking beauty are just one characteristic of S. Miguel	Azores: Furnas, S. Miguel / The unique flavour of cooking in the Furnas volcanic vents is never to be forgotten.
Azores: Ponta Delgada / Disembark in São Miguel and begin your visit in the largest city of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, where there is excellent accommodation able to ensure your ...	Cetaceans in the Azores / Set in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores are an archipelago of nine islands that are still in a very pure state.	São Jorge cheese / The island of São Jorge, in the central group of the archipelago of the Azores, is composed of a narrow mountain whose northern coast falls sheer to the sea ...	Azores fishing towns / Visiting the Azores means entering a small world built over many centuries by whalers, farmers and fishermen. All the islands are an immense fishing ground, ...