Azores Holidays

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Get Away From It All, Discover The Azores

If you grow weary of the trappings of mass tourism and yearn for something a little quieter and a tad more real, then it could be that the Azores are just the kind of place you've been looking for.

The islands sit in splendid isolation on roughly the same latitude as Lisbon and, not surprisingly, it was the Portuguese who first discovered them back in 1427. The island's strategic importance soon became apparent and the archipelago was to become a crucial link in navigation between Europe, the Orient and America during the course of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Get Back To Nature On The Azores

If you like walking, wildlife and spectacular, unspoiled landscapes, you'll love the Azores. ‘Twitchers' will appreciate an abundance of bird life on the islands including several members of the eagle family. Gardeners will appreciate the abundance of plants including species that are unique to the islands. Keep an eye out for cedar, heather, wild grapes, wild ginger, mahogany, Japanese pine,  hortencias, camellia and azaleas.

There are plenty of well marked trails on the islands but make sure you've got a map too!

Sete Cidades – The Azores Most Famous Lakes

Famous and very, very beautiful Sete Cidades ("Seven Cities") features two lakes in the middle of a vast volcanic crater that's about three miles across. Understandably this is one of the islands most popular national parks and a definite ‘must see'. If you're going to the Azores you have to witness the famous view of the lakes as one (Lagoa Azul) reflects the deep blue of the sky while the other (Lagoa Verde) reflects the ground. According to legend, the differently coloured lakes were created when a princess and her lover, a young shepherd, had to part from each other. The tears they shed at their farewell became the two lakes, with the water coloured like their eyes.

Food & Drink In The Azores

The Azores are not famous for their cuisine but, never fear, you'll be well fed here! Naturally you'll find plenty of good, fresh seafood as well as good local rabbit too. Azoreans definitely have a sweet tooth and you'll find lots of really good local sweets and cookies that are often home made. If you're worried about getting your five a day, try the delicious local pineapples. Believe it or not the islands make their own red and white wines, brew their own beer and make a rather good gin known Aquadente. And do try a brandy known as Aquadente Graciosa, great with coffee.

Ponta Delgada The Azores' Capital Attraction

As well as the great outdoors the Azores boasts its fair share of cosmopolitan pursuits. You'll find plenty of good shops in the city, some excellent restaurants and chic marina bars. There are museums, fine Portuguese architecture and some beautiful 17 th and 18 th century churches, plus the even older fortress that was built to defend the city from pirates. Whatever you do in the Azores you'll appreciate the islands' authentic feel, the absence of crowds, the unspoiled landscapes and sheer, natural charm. So come along, what's keeping you?