Tag Archives: Portugal
Enjoy the most beautiful festivals and events in Ponta Delgada!
In November 2024, Ponta Delgada will hold several memorable festivals.
1. Festa de São Martinho (Feast of Saint Martin)
Held on November 11, this festival celebrates Saint Martin with traditional food, music and local wine, particularly “mosto” (young wine) and roasted chestnuts.
2. Festival do Vinho dos Açores
Typically held in late October, this wine festival can run into early November. It celebrates local wines with tastings, culinary combinations and cultural acts.
3. Conferência Internacional de Cidades Sustentáveis
Held in November, this international conference focuses on sustainability practices in urban areas and brings together speakers and participants from different nations.
4. Mercado do Dia de São Martinho
Local markets open during the Feast of Saint Martin to celebrate the harvest season with artisanal items, local foods and crafts.
5. Exposições de Arte
In November, Ponta Delgada offers art exhibitions in galleries and cultural centers, featuring local and international artists’ installations, paintings and photography.
These events offer a fantastic opportunity to explore local culture and community spirit!
Enjoy the most beautiful festivals and events in Ponta Delgada with your family and friends, knowing that Ponta Delgada Low Cost Transfers will provide you high-quality and outstanding taxi services anytime you need them!
Live the most amazing moments in Sao Miguel Island!
The largest island in the Azores group, São Miguel, is renowned for its breathtaking vistas, emerald oceans and volcanic craters.
1. Sete Cidades
The enormous volcanic crater known as Sete Cidades is home to two lakes, Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lake), which are adjacent to one another but have different hues.
The Vista do Rei viewpoint is one of the most famous locations on the island since it provides an amazing view of these lakes encircled by lush flora.
2. Lagoa do Fogo
São Miguel’s center is the immaculate volcanic crater lake known as Lagoa do Fogo, or Lake of Fire. The lake gives a more untamed, wild atmosphere and is bordered by steep, lush hills.
It’s a worthwhile trip to the lake, where you can swim in its crystal-clear waters.
3. Furnas Valley
Furnas Valley is well-known for its geothermal features, which include fumaroles, hot springs and the unusual “cozido” cooking technique, which involves preparing meals underground using ambient heat.
This location is made more charming by the gorgeous Lagoa das Furnas and the botanical park Terra Nostra Park, which features a geothermal swimming pool.
4. Miradouro da Boca do Inferno
With expansive views of Lagoa das Sete Cidades and the surrounding volcanic environment, this viewpoint provides one of the most striking views on the island.
The brief ascent to the vantage point is definitely worthwhile, offering an incredibly remarkable outlook on São Miguel’s unspoiled splendor.
5. Ponta da Ferraria
In the unusual coastal region of Ponta da Ferraria, swimming is possible in naturally occurring rock pools heated by volcanic thermal waters.
Cool ocean water mixed with warm geothermal springs makes for a soothing experience in a breathtaking location, especially after sunset when the light plays off the cliffs and waves.
These spots highlight São Miguel’s varied natural beauty, which makes the island a haven for adventurers and nature lovers.
Live the most amazing moments on this unique green island, surrounded by beauty and charm, with your family and friends, always counting on Ponta Delgada Taxi, for safe and high quality rides wherever and whenever you need, for unforgettable experiences!
Visit the extraordinary and beautiful Ponta Delgada!
1. Praça Gonçalo Velho Cabral
One of Ponta Delgada’s principal town squares is Praça Gonçalo Velho Cabral. The statue of the island’s discoverer, Gonçalo Velho Cabral, is located here along with the famous Portas da Cidade, another must-see attraction in Ponta Delgada. The city gate from the eighteenth century features three arches constructed with local stones and in the traditional Azorean style. The city gate was relocated to its current site in 1952 from a neighboring spot where it had originally stood in 1783.
Numerous events are taking place in this town plaza, it’s definitely a must-see location!
Discover the upcoming events in the Azores!
1. Além Mar Festival
The inaugural Além Mar Festival, organized by Aurum et Púrpura – Núcleo de Criação Artístico, will take place on the islands of São Miguel, Pico, Faial and Flores. The concerts in Faial will be held on February 3, 8, 11, and 16 at the Teatro Faialense, the Museum of Horta, the Casa Manuel de Arriaga and the Igreja do Carmo.
The primary goal of the Festival is to bring together the musical expressions of the Portuguese mainland and the islands in order to foster an inter-Atlantic cultural and social dialogue.
In order to accomplish this, in addition to the musical program, it offers a novel and distinctive typology and program in the area, generating educational possibilities for the general public.
Enjoy the most beautiful winter events and traditions in Sao Miguel!
1. Magical Christmas Circus
Cardinali Live Entertainment and Coliseu Micaelense are happy to surprise their audience with the introduction of two new sessions for December 9th, given the high demand for the Christmas Magic Circus and the fact that both of the sessions on December 7th have already sold out!
The Christmas Magic Circus is being brought to the greatest show venue in the Azores for the first time by The Cardinali Live Entertainment and Coliseu Micaelense!
The Christmas Magic Circus is a component of the contemporary circus movement, which places more of an emphasis on musical and scenic elements and targets an older audience. The kids now have a turn!
Enjoy Sao Miguel’s top summer destinations!
1. Lagoa de Santiago appears to be a deep lagoon situated in Serra Devassa, at the bottom of a volcanic crater and it’s connected to the volcanic structure of the Maciço das Sete Cidades. It rises 334 meters above sea level, it’s 475 meters broad, 29 meters deep and 700 meters long, being flanked by plantations of cryptomeria and typical Macaronesian woodlands.
Miradouro da Lagoa de Santiago – From here, you can see a tiny vulcan lake that is surrounded by lush, unspoiled vegetation. You can get there by taking one of the many nearby treks, but to obtain the greatest views, continue walking for another 500 meters after you reach the designated viewpoint.
2. Ponta da Ferraria is a stunning beach located on the island’s westernmost tip. It has a tiny hot pool and is well-equipped with restrooms, showers and changing areas as well as a lifeguard on duty.
The pool’s water is heated by a geothermal natural spring that lies beneath the waves and mixes with the ocean’s cold water to create a range of temperatures from 18 to 28 degrees Celsius.
Check the tide schedule on the day you visit to see when it is low tide so you can easily enter the pool.
Additionally, the black volcanic stones on the beach make it incredibly hot, so bring sunscreen!
3. Despe-te Que Suas is a stunning viewpoint situated in the parish of Algarvia, municipality of Nordeste.
The cities of Algarvia and Santana, as well as a portion of the island of So Miguel’s north shore, are all visible from this vantage point.
Another overlook with breathtaking sea views may be found on this captivating island. On a beautiful summer day, you can come here and enjoy a picnic while taking in the scenery, as the area is furnished with tables and benches.
4. The Ribeira dos Caldeires Natural Park, with its rushing streams, cascading waterfalls and bursts of bright hydrangeas, best exemplifies the natural splendor of the Northeast region. With mountain routes carved into the rock, pathways through the jungle to explore and endless photo opportunities all along the way, it’s also the ideal place for adventurous hikers.
The major attraction of the park is its breathtaking series of waterfalls, which are encircled by high cliffs and a verdant tropical forest and offer the perfect environment for canyoning and abseiling activities.
5. One of Sao Miguel Island’s outstanding natural settings is Lagoa do Canario. The lake, which is 800 meters above sea level and situated in the Ponta Delgada municipality, is reachable by a short climb. The lake or lagoon is a stunning shade of green that will leave you speechless.
This tourist destination is a component of the Parque Florestal da Mata do Canário, which has one of the most intriguing landscapes on the island as well as indigenous Macaronesian plants.
Given the precious nature’s abundance of trees, plants and flowers, the walk through the greenery instills a sense of tranquility in you.
The journey’s unexpected reward is the spectacular and distinctive scenery of Lagoa do Canário.
Enjoy the captivating island of Sao Miguel with you family and friends, always counting on Ponta Delgada Taxi for efficient and easy taxi services whenever you need!
Discover the marvels of Ponta Delgada!
Come and discover Ponta Delgada, one of the most beautiful corners of nature, a unique paradise where you can discover new places each day! Ponta Delgada began as a common fishing village whose fishermen were once attracted by its safe coves, but soon began to have a higher role, that of the main port of the São Miguel Island.
Ponta Delgada is today a cosmopolitan city, outward looking, with a lively economic and cultural life, becoming the accurate expression of dynamism and adaptation to new changes and new times. This colorful place, enriched with an outstanding and exotic character, represents one of the most visited and popular holiday destinations, which definitely cannot be missed.
Carlos Machado Museum
Once in Ponta Delgada, you have to visit the marvellous Carlos Machado Museum. The quirky collection of regional ethnography on display at the Carlos Machado Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the customs and traditions of island life. Founded in 1876 and named after its founder, the museum is housed in the former 16th-century monastery of Santo André, and is worth a good hour of your time, especially if visiting with kids, who will appreciate the miscellany of lovely antique toys and trinkets from the early 20th century.
As well as showcasing Sao Miguel’s fishing and farming industries, the museum holds a permanent collection of period and contemporary paintings and sculpture, important works that include paintings by local artist Domingos Rebelo (1891-1975).
The museum hosts the Collection of Sacred Art, gathered in the Jesuit College Church of Ponta Delgada, a monumental example of religious architecture, inserted in the Baroque Circuit.
The gallery includes important pieces of Portuguese Art, such as a set of six 16th century paintings: “Santa Margarida and Santa Apolónia” and “Santa Catarina and Santa Bárbara”, created between 1510 and 1520, by the artists of the School of Coimbra, Vicente Gil and his son Manuel Vicente.
The museum’s separate Núcleo de Arte Sacra houses sacred art treasures, while Machado’s own natural history collection is preserved in a dedicated wing.
Lagoa do Fogo
The “Lake of Fire”, Lagoa do Fogo is another breathtaking location, a caldera with a lake at the bottom. Hidden in the centre of Miguel island, Lagoa de Fogo or “Lake of Fire” is a blue crater lake which rests in the central caldera of the Água de Pau Massif, the youngest volcano on the island. Its remote setting makes this impressive volcanic crater especially appealing to outdoor enthusiasts due to the moderately difficult 14 kilometer uphill walk that starts from Ribeira da Praia on the south coast and ends overlooking the crater’s rim. The Lake of Fire represents a protected nature reservation and the crater’s walls are covered with a multitude of endemic plant species. You can easily spend an entire day here, admiring the beauties of this marvellous place and indulging yourself with an invigorating mineral bath while exploring Caldeira Grande.
Gruta do Carvão
Located in the western part of Ponta Delgada city, Gruta do Carvão is the longest lava tunnel of São Miguel island and it extends for 1912 metres divided in three separate sections. There is another cave with a similar name, called Algar do Carvão on Terceira. The explanation is easy, Carvão means coal in English, and it refers to the black colour of the cave walls. Most of the caves on the islands are lava tubes, and lava has very often this dark black colour. As a result there are various “Coal Pits”. Of course, there is no coal found on this islands.
The entrance is behind a factory, a flight of stairs, lit by a string of light bulbs, which leads to a roomy passage. The passage ends where a large stormwater drain broke into the cave ceiling. Gruta do Carvão has some extraordinary multi-coloured rock formations with weird shapes, really impressive, which cannot be missed! They are the result of lava remains cooling down in the tube.
Come and discover the marvels and beauties of Ponta Delgada. Be part of this wonderful adventure in the middle of a spectacular blend of colors, landscapes and feelings!
You can always rely on Ponta Delgada Taxi for transfers and also sightseeing tours with your family and friends, which will definitely win your heart in this neverending adventure!