The island of Santa Maria is part of the Eastern group of the Azores Archipelago, together with the island of São Miguel, and is the oldest island in the Azores.
It is the oldest island in the archipelago, where you can find very old sedimentary deposits, where there is a great variety of mollusc fossils.
Moreover, the fact that this is the island of the archipelago that is located more to the south and the east, it presents a warmer climate than the others. This is where its popular name “Island of the Sun” comes from. Santa Maria is then a leisure and holiday destination closely related to sun and beach.
In this article, we will present several places that you should include in your visit to this beautiful island.
Maia Lighthouse (Gonçalo Velho)
In itself, a visit to a lighthouse is a great attraction. It is a lighthouse built in 1927 and has 114 meters of altitude, from the sea line. Its tower is 14 meters high, is operated by 3 lighthouse keepers and is located at Ponta do Castelo, in Santo Espírito. This place offers an excellent viewpoint with a paradisiacal view.
Fort of São Brás de Vila do Porto
The São Brás Fort, also known as the São Brás Castle, is a 16th-century building. It was built during the Philippine domain with the intention of defending the village of Porto from attacks by pirates and corsairs. Its interior is characterized by the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and the Chapel of Corpo Santo, both worthy of your visit. Note also the square of arms of this fort and the obelisk that honours Commander Carvalho Araújo.
Maloás Creek
Derived from a geological formation, and also known as “Giant Pavement”, this is the result of an outcrop of gigantic basalt columns.
It is part of a waterfall about 20 metres high in the Malbusca area. Its columnar disjunction is associated with the lava flows of the volcanic complex of Pico Alto, which allowed the creation of this unique geological landscape.
Barreiro da Faneca
This is a place more like a desert in the Azores. It has a reddish colour due to the volcanic fragments expelled to the origin of the island. It is known as the “Red Desert of the Azores”. It has an area of about 835 hectares and fascinates at first sight by its arid and clayey landscape, the fruit of the most recent volcanic activity of Santa Maria – the “Formation of Feteiras”.
Formosa Beach
Probably the most famous place on the island. It is a magnificent beach of light sand (due to this being the oldest island of the archipelago, this is the only one with older sediments like limestone) which contrasts with the other beaches of the Azores that present dark sand originating from basaltic erosion. It has waters with temperatures that invite you to a relaxing bath and also to practise nautical sports such as surfing, bodyboarding and windsurfing. It is on this beach that the prestigious Tide of August festival also takes place.
Poço da Pedreira
Beautiful lake originated by the rain in a quarry (place of stone extraction). This is a must-visit place that so demonstrates the joint action of man and nature. This is an ancient site of inert extraction. In addition, this beautiful site is a geosite of the Azores Geopark and presents a great national relevance of scientific interest.
Pico Alto
The highest place on the island, about 590 meters high. At its belvedere, you can admire a panoramic view of the whole island of Santa Maria. Its ascent is possible through a properly signposted trail.
Santa Maria Museum
Museum with two museum nuclei: the Ethnographic Museum and the Museological Nucleus of Vila do Porto. Here, you will have at your disposal excellent works that represent so well the local handicraft and also the oldest customs of the people of Santa Maria.
São Lourenço Bay
Bathing resort with a beach and natural pool. It is located at the bottom of a wonderful slope from where it is possible to admire vineyards that produce the famous wine of São Lourenço.
Aveiro Waterfall
This is one of the largest waterfalls in continental Portugal. It presents 100 meters of altitude and at the base of this waterfall, you will find a lake.
