Tourist Attractions & Monuments The Azores

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.

Located on the edge of the ocean and watching the Pico, a white church of the eighteenth century (a part dating back to the end of xve), one of the finest examples of religious art in the Azores, the church has been classified as a national monument since 2017. Inside, azulejos trace the life of the patron saint of the church. On the magnificent ceiling of cedar wood, Saint Georges, the Holy Spirit and Saint Barbara are recognized. Among the furniture, there is an impressive wood-carved cedar wood.

It is a lava tunnel about 700 m long. After a presentation of the cave by a member of Os Montanheiros, the visit is free (don't worry, the tunnel is very well lit!). The cave was originally known as the Black Gallery, then it was renamed the Horse Cave, and finally the Christmas Cave (the date on which the cave was first opened to the public). We can observe different types of lava and other geological structures; an unusual and instructive moment!

You can see a traditional whaling boat, the Senhora de Fatima, which has been restored by Terra Azul, an agency specialising in cetacean observation and concerned about the whale heritage of the Azores. At the time of recovery, this old boat was operating as a... bar counter! To learn more about the history of Senhora de Fatima and learn more about whaling history in the Azores, visit Terra Azul.