Graciosa, Azores

Approximately 31 miles of Terceira lies the island of Graciosa. It has a surface area of 24 sq miles (61 km2). It is called the white island due to the landscape and the names given to certain places like "Pedras Brancas" or White Stones, "Serra Branca" or White Mountain, and "Barro Branco" or White Clay. The island has about 4600 inhabitants. The main municipalities are "Santa Cruz" and "Lajes".

The islets along the coast of Graciosa add a peculiar beauty to the islands. The "Praia" Islet, totally covered by vegetation, and the "Baleia" Islet, named this way because of it has shape of a whale.

The undulating wheat-fields, green and purple vineyards. The vanes of windmills revolving in the wind. The colour of the vineyards. The mirror formed by a lagoon hidden in the depth of the earth. The peace and quiet of country life. The nectar of delicious wines. Pastoral attractions of Graciosa, which also offers, in dramatic beauty, the rainbow colours of underwater life.



Some of the places to visit

Ethnographic Museum which contains items related to the culture of wine and the now gone whaling industry.


From the "Monte de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda", you can have a look over the town of Santa Cruz.


The "Furna do Enxofre" (Sulphur Cavern), in the interior of the "Caldeira", or crater of a former Volcano there's a tunnel about 330 feet (100 m) deep and has a lake filled with cold sulphur water.


It is possible to visit other caverns such as "Bolos, Lembradeira, Manuel de Avila, Labarda, Furada, Linheiro, Cardo, Gato, Castelo, Calcinhas, Queimado, Vermelho, Cão, Urze and Luis".


From the "Timao" summit, at an altitude of 1300 feet (398 m), and the "Facho" summit, at an altitude of 1230 feet (375 m), as well as from the "Dormida, Branca and Fontes" mountains you can get a glimpse not only of the island, but of the surrounding ocean and the islands of Terceira, São Jorge, Pico and Faial.


The "Carapacho" Hot Spring Baths with medicinal waters.