Santa Maria

Places of interest

The island of Santa Maria offers a wide range of landscapes. For those who like to combine leisure culture, you will find a very peculiar heritage, the nature associated with history.

Vila do Porto

Vila do Porto is the only municipality of the island of Santa Maria, characterized by being a quiet place of great historical importance. Vila do Porto has a great cultural and architectural heritage.

Praia Formosa

Praia Formosa is composed of one kilometer of clear sand and water. It is one of the most famous beaches of the archipelago.
Every year, In August, near this beach, there is the Maré de Agosto Festival, which attracts many people, especially teenagers from the other islands.

Baía de São Lourenço

São Lourenço bay is a natural reserve, located at the east coast of the Azores and is one of the attractions of this island. It presents a wonderful landscape characterized for its vineyards disposed along its slope.

Maia e Anjos

Maia is one of the villages located on the southwestern coast of the island of Santa Maria, having a wonderful natural pool. Many tourists visit this village to enjoy the natural beauty and enjoy the calm of the village.
Anjos is known for its bay and its natural pools, very frequented by visitors. In this village, you can visit the Anjos Chapel (one of the oldest temples of the Azores) and the statue in honor of Christopher Columbus.

Forte de São Braz

Forte de São Braz was built in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. It is located in Vila do Porto and was built in order to protect the coast from the attacks and looting of pirates and privateers.
It is currently one of the most important tourist point of the village, which is a must stop for anyone visiting the island.

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