Have you visited the main attractions of Graciosa Island? Are you looking for new adventures on the island? Read on and find out what to visit so that your next stay will be a totally different experience!
Porto Afonso
Porto Afonso, named after an ancient settler who owned the burnt land, is a place on Graciosa Island that stands out. This is mainly due to its very high cliffs highlighted by their bright colors in reddish and orange tones.
A fort used to defend against pirate attacks was once located here, around the 17th century. However, it has not survived to this day, leaving little or no trace.
Maria Encantada Cave
Located on the summit of the Graciosa Caldeira, this cavity of volcanic origin is about 56 meters long, 5 meters wide and 6 meters high. Its ascent is relatively easy and rewarding, because along the way you get stunning panoramic views of the Caldeira.
Furna do Abel
This volcanic cave is located in the parish of Luz and reaches a length of 96 meters, a width of 8 meters and a height of 6 meters, thus being one of the largest lava tubes on Graciosa island.
If you walk through the entire cave, you will come across a curious surprise at the end, an altar and a cross. It is believed that they were left there after a mass was celebrated there in the 1970s.
Graciosa Museum
The Museum of Graciosa is located in an old granary (deposit or a storage room associated with the production of cereals and wine). On the second floor it presents the aspect of a typical Graciosa house, being still possible to observe, on the first floor, the wine cellar, with its mills, presses and agricultural implements.
Besides this nucleus, the Graciosa Museum presents two other nuclei: the Canoe Booth and the Fontes site. In the first you can see the whaling canoes and the utensils used in this activity and in the second you can visit a windmill, also very related to the good economic art of the Azores.
Windmills
The arrival of windmills to Graciosa took place at the end of the XIX century. Of Scandinavian origin, their domes highlight the red of the island. They date from the time when Graciosa was the island that exported the most cereals, being nicknamed “the granary of the Azores”.
Nowadays, it is possible to visit these mills, some of them having been converted into museum centers open to visits. Here, you can learn all about the architecture and operation of these structures that were once important to the local economy.