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Nature
and environment
The
Azores commitment to the preservation of nature and
environmental protection led the European Union to award the
Azores an honourable mention in 1995 as part of the European
Awards for Tourism and the Environment.
The
region's concern for this area is borne out by the presence of
dozens of natural reserves, areas of protected landscape, parks
and forests on the nine islands, a fifing testament to the
commitment the regional government shows towards their
ecological preservation.
Flora
Over 55 native vascular plants transform
the Azores into a fascinating botanical garden for plant lovers.
Cedar trees, heather, ling, mountain grapes, white wood, ginger,
dogwood and the tarnujo bush, to name but a few of the local
species. Then there are the new additions accumulated over the
centuries such as the Japanese criptomera and the acacia tree
both used in the manufacture of wooden products; the flowering
hydrangea and azaleas; camellia, incense and many other
ornamental plants.
Fauna
Without
a shadow of a doubt, the birds are the most attractive fauna of
the region, in particular the priolo, a native species, the hawk,
blackbird, cagarro, wood pigeon, and common and red garajau. The
sea off the Azores is home to hundreds of species of fish and
shellfish as well as imposing mammals such as sperm whales,
making it a truly living aquarium for those who enjoy underwater
diving.
Cultural
heritage
The islands churches provide the only
remaining traces of the settlement period. The 15th to the 18th
centuries saw intense building work on the islands resulting in
interesting examples of civil and religious art, especially
baroque. Baroque takes on a character all of its very own on the
islands in view of the limited material available locally and
the distance separating the islands from mainland European
cultural centres. As the first Atlantic city built according to
16th century town planning standards and endowed with worthy
reminders of its cultural heritage in the form of its churches,
palaces and fortress, Angra do Heroismo (Terceira island) was
awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. The art and
ethnographic museums and the popular architecture of each
islands give credence to the cultural heritage of the region and
allow us to delve deeper into the history and life of Azoreans
over the centuries.
Local
Festival
The
Azoreans are a deeply religious people and this finds no better
expression than at their festivals, which carry on the
traditions of pious devotion. The Festivals of Espirito Santo,
rooted in medieval traditions, are common to all the islands (May
and September) and offer up an opportunity to fraternise with
the locals. The Festivals of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres in
Ponta Delgada (Sic Miguel); the Festivals of Sanjoaninas in
Angra do Heroismo (Terceira island); the Semana do Mar in Horta
(Faial island); the festival of the whalers on the islands of
Pico and Mare in August on Santa Maria island; and the merry
carnival of the island of Graciosa constitute the high points of
the festival calendar which lasts all year round.
Gastronomy
The many traditional recipes of Azorean
cuisine are a culinary delight for the gastronome, particularly
those with a penchant for sumptuous, fresh fish who will find
their own personal heaven in the Azores. For dessert, there are
a wide variety of puddings as well as excellent cheeses (the
prime example coming from the island of Sic Jorge), sweet and
juicy pineapples, the tropical passion fruit and herb tea grown
on the island of Sic Miguel.
White
and red wines, brandy from the island of Graciosa, verdelho from
the island of Pico and Biscoitos (Terceira island) are all a
must for
those making a gastronomic tour of the Azores.
Handicraft
Using local materials, the Azorean
artisans keep alive century old traditions. From coloured
ceramics to delicate embroidery and lace, from works made of
whalebone and teeth to the exquisite floral arrangements crafted
out of fish scales, to pieces made from the pith of fig trees
and hydrangea. And let us not forget the miniatures of elegant
whale boats and every-day traditional objects, the guitars which
lend life to a land that loves its festivals and works crafted
from black basalt.
Tourist
facilities
Comfortable hotel installations
accommodate tourists on all the islands, with the exception of
Corvo, which has only one bed and breakfast. On the islands of
Faial, São Miguel and Terceira tourist facilities are to be
found in a rural setting, affording high quality accommodation
in homely surroundings.
Clothing
Whatever
the time of year, lightweight clothing with one or two woollens
for those cool evenings is all you'll need. Raincoats are
recommended from October to April when rainfall is more frequent
though a sunny spell is always just around the corner.
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