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Faial
Faial
is part of the central group of the Azores with a surface area
of approximately 67 square miles (173 km2). Faial has about 15.000
inhabitants. The island is also known as Ilha
Azul (Blue Island), due to the Hydrangeas that bloom during
the summer months. Faial is hilly; the highest
mountain, the Cabeço Gordo
Caldera, is 1,043 metres high and the inner crater is 2 km wide
and 500 metres deep. The deepest part of the crater is filled with
a lake.
Along with other Azorean
islands, Faial is of volcanic origin and is close to the tectonic
divide between the European and American plates. Indeed, the island
can be considered the westernmost point of Europe (the two islands
west of Faial, Pico and Corvo, are actually already on the American
plate). Relatively small in size the centre of the island is dominated
by Cabeço Gordo and its Caldeira. Between 1957/1958 the
Volcano dos Capelinhos, located in west of the island,
erupted for more than one year. Because of this eruption the island
of Faial increased by 2,4 sq km
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Horta, seat of the only municipality
in Faial, is one of the liveliest, and most eye-catching town
of the Azores. It provides wonderful views of the island of
Pico, and sometimes São Jorge. It contains a great richness
of architecture illustrated in its buildings and monuments.
The marina is generally filled with colourful
yachts which stop here during their voyage across the North
Atlantic. The sea wall is of special interest as it is covered
with hundreds of paintings and messages left by the sea-travellers
who call in at the port. This creates a lively atmosphere characteristic
to Horta.
Up until a few years ago you could count the yachts
on the fingers of your hand and their arrival was an event.
Now there are hundreds of yachts that make Horta their compulsory
port of call for crossings of the Atlantic or the vertex of
a triangle that ends on the coasts of America or Europe. Famous
names in yachting (such as Joshua Slocum, the first lone navigator
to sail round the world, Tabarly, Sir Francis Chichester, Malinovsky
and Fougeron) have anchored their boats in the blue waters of
the port on their historic voyages. And Horta has been the port
of arrival or call for international regattas.
The southern coast is a delightful panorama. Varadouro,
the southern spa region, is dominated by an attractive bay and
the black rock cliffs of the Castelo Branco (Mouro).
The Varadouro spa, and its hypersaline waters at a temperature
of 35.5ºC (96ºF) are available to beachgoers who travel to ocean-carved
pools for refreshment. Castelo Branco and Feteria highlight
the rough coast and pasturelands near the city of Horta. Lajinha and Ponta
Furada is an area of caves and strange lava arches formed
during the creation of the island.
The interior landscape is different. On Monte Carneiro (overlooking
the city) there is a point from which excellent views are available,
in particular the Vale dos Flamengos on account of
its plantations, flowers and cottages. Other places of interest
are edged by hydrangea and rustic forests to places of great
interest: Largo Jaime de Melo, Riberia do Cabo, Riberia Funda,
etc.
The sea and nautical sports are attractions of Faial for
those who want holidays that are lived with intensity. Horta bay
and the Faial-Pico channel are privileged areas for practising sailing,
windsurfing and rowing. The indented coasts, the volcanic bottoms
and the wealth of flora and fauna provide divers with hours of pleasure.
But it is yachting that best defines its vocation as an island that
lives for the sea.
Faial Highlights
Villages and Culture
- Horta, main capital and attractive marine port: Igreja
de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao, Palacio do Colegio, Igreja
Matriz do Santissimo Salvador, Colegio dos Jesuitas, Museu
da Horta, Covento de Sao Francisco , Monte Carneiro, Forte
de Santa Cruz, Peter Sport Café, Museu de Scrimshaw
- Feteira: Costa da Feteira,
Igreja do Divino Espirito Santo, the imperios
- Varadouro: small
thermal bath, Capela da Senhora das Dores, Ermida de Nossa
Senhora da Saude, nature pools
- Flamengos: Igreja de Nossa Senhora
da Luz, Botanical garden.
Nature
- Caldeira – in the
center of the island lies an enormous crater with 6560 feet
(2 km) diameter and 1300 feet (400 m) deep. This area is
a protected natural area
- Cabecao Gordo –
Highest point of Faial with 3400 feet (1040 meters).
- Ponta dos Capilinhos – the newest area of the
island caused by the eruption of the vulcano, with contrasting
black lava fields near the blue ocean. In the “Capelinhos”
Museum (NUCLEO MUSEOLOGICO DOS CAPELINHOS),
near the area in the town of Capelo, this historical event
is presented.
- Parque Florestal do Capelo: park
- Mirante da Estrada da Caldeira: nice viewpoint near Flamengos
with a view over Flamengos Valley.
- Baia da Ribeira das Cabras: nice
black sand beach
- Praia do Almoxarife – sand
and stone beach with a campground.
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Every
year, from the first to the second Sunday in August,
Horta's is home to the week of the sea. The port is
full of sailing ships with their colourful sails and
flags. The town is dominated by the happy music of
bands and groups of stringed instruments, the songs
and dances of folk music groups, the animation of
a charity sale, art and handicraft exhibitions. The
festival is dedicated to the sea, and on its waters
there is a regatta in the Faial-Pico channel. Besides
the regatta there are competitions of sailing, windsurfing,
swimming and fishing, and aquatic games for youngsters. |
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