Events calendar Santa Maria

One of the most important festivals in the Azores, its origins date back to the 1980s. Every year at the end of August, Santa Maria welcomes an international audience driven by a common passion: world music. The program? Relaxation during the day and concerts at night. For the occasion, the small island is transformed into a large open-air concert hall, each time welcoming several thousand spectators. The event takes place in the bay of Praia Formoso, just a few metres from the sea, in an absolutely idyllic setting.

In the small town of Praia Formosa, on the island of Santa Maria, the feast of the patron saint Santo Amaro is an important religious and traditional festival. Every year, the tradition continues, beginning with a mass at the church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, followed by an auction in which arms and legs made of hand-kneaded dough are sold. The faithful offer them as payment for their promises. Festivities in honor of Santo Amaro also take place in other Portuguese cities.

The Feast of the Virgin Mary is an important religious festival throughout the Azores. It is particularly celebrated in Vila do Porto (Santa Maria), as Mary is the town's patron saint. Kermesses, concerts, shows and local produce markets bring the town's municipal garden to life. This is also the case in Vila Nova, on the island of Terceira, and in Corvo, which celebrate their patron saint, Nossa Senhora dos Milagres (Our Lady of Miracles).