Things to see and do Santa Maria

Divided into 5 parishes, this small capital lives to the rhythm of the events organized there throughout the year. It's a good base from which to explore Santa Maria. Here you'll find everything you need to plan your activities on the island: a tourist office, hotels, bars, restaurants and stores, as well as local agencies to organize tours and outings. The town council also runs the Praia Formosa campsite.

Built between the 15th and 17th centuries and rebuilt in the 19th century, the church, where blue dominates, retains Gothic and Manueline elements. There are azulejos and, in the baptistery, stained glass windows (quite rare in the Azores) depicting the baptism of Jesus. Also noteworthy are a relief representation of Hell, a Virgin and Child by a Flemish painter and a particularly moving sculpture by Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

It's the highest waterfall in Portugal! At a height of 110 metres, it is truly impressive. The waterfall tumbles down in the middle of a natural basalt amphitheatre formed by lava flows, amid lush vegetation. A protected area, it is part of the Santa Maria Island Natural Park and the Azores Geopark. In summer, it's possible to swim here, but the waterfall sometimes dries up. At the foot of the cliff, where the water falls, you'll see the Lagar de Diogo Santos Faleiro, an old wine press built at the end of the ^16th century. Idyllic.

Right in the center of town, this small, modern museum is the result of the renovation of two historic residences: the house of the third captain-donor of the island of Santa Maria, João Soares de Sousa (1493-1571), and the house where Manuel Monteiro Velho Arruda (1873-1950), a famous doctor and historian, was born. Inside, temporary exhibitions take place one after the other; check the website to find out what they're all about. To make the most of them, the best option is to ask for a guided tour; the museum staff will be delighted to accompany you!