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Faial island is also part of the central group of the archipelago, about 66 miles from Terceira, 4.5 miles from Pico and 11 miles from S. Jorge. The surface area of Faial is approximately of 173 km2. The island has about 15.000 inhabitants and its’ main municipal seat is located in the city of Horta. The different colours of blue decorate the houses, divide the fields and line the roadsides, giving Faial the name of Blue Island.

In the 18th century the development of whale hunting brought the early whaling fleets to Horta.  Becoming later, on the 19th century an important sea port, and a stopping point for a large number of yachts crossing the Atlantic.

In 1957 a great vulcanic eruption from the “Ilhéu dos Capelinhos”, about 1 km from the coast, projected large quantities of lava and ash forming an islet that later became connected to Faial by an isthmus.
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Some of the places to visit:

  • CABEÇO GORDO, with an altitude of 1043 meters. Located in the centre of the island, it offers amazing views of tje neighbour islands of Pico and São Jorge
  • The CALDEIRA is also a great attraction, an enormous crater with 2 km in diametre and 400 m. deep. This area is classified as a natural reserve.
  • MONTE DA GUIA, a mount from where you can have a look over the town, is also a protected natural reserve.
  • PONTA DOS CAPELINHOS is one of Faial's main tourist attractions, where the visitor can see the results of the eruption of 1957/8 which transformed the landscape, burying fields and houses. It steel can be seen the old light house.
  • LAJINHA and PONTA FURADA are a great attraction for their caves and strange lava arches, where the sea often flows violently against the rocks.
  • The VALE DE FLAMENGOS is an atractive area full of colourful plantations, flowers and picturesque houses.
  • Scrimshaw Museum - This is a private collection belonging to the owner of the popular Peter's Café. Over a hundred pieces are exhibited here, engraved with beautiful sailing boats, mermaids, images of whale-hunting, between many others. 
  • Horta Museum - Housed in the former Jesuit College, the museum is noted for its collection of fig wood, one of the island's traditional handicrafts.
  • Port of Horta - Built in 1876, it is an important sea-port, which is a principal port-of-call for many transatlantic yachts. 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.  

Some of the Festivals:

  • The “Semana do Mar” or Sea Week, which begins on the first Sunday in August, is organised by various institutions connected with water sports and tourism, and includes all sorts of activities connected with the sea, as well as other cultural events, and has become internationally famous.
Azores Map
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Azores Map