São Miguel

The PRC 48 SMI – Vinhas de São Caetano walking trail begins and ends at Mata do Café, in the parish of Livramento, running along the southern coastline of São Miguel in an easy circular route. Throughout the trail, walkers enjoy a landscape defined by its proximity to the sea and the historical interaction between local communities and the natural environment.

The route begins on the “Ribeira da Praia” path and develops along the southern slope of the “Serra de Água de Pau”. This trail provides connection between the municipalities of “Vila Franca do Campo” and “Lagoa”. It allows hikers to choose several trails options, according to the time availability and their physical condition.

The pedestrian route to Fajã do Mar begins and ends at the viewpoint of Vigia das Baleias, in the parish of Feteiras which, due to its wide views over the south coast of the island of São Miguel, was used as a support for the "lookouts" on land to observe and locate the whales, representing an important testimony of the history of whaling, which had economic importance in the Azores in the last century, and continues to be used today, but for the purposes of the tourist activity of "whale watching".

This small circular route develops through the village of Água Retorta, near the protected area for the habitats and species management. Begin the trail near the church of Nossa Senhora da Penha de França, built between 1871 and 1885 taking advantage of the bell tower, a reminiscence of an old chapel from the 17th c. that existed here.

This circular route through the village of Faial da Terra develops partially in the geosite of Caldeira of Povoação. Begin the walk at the center of the village and follow the marks by a road accessing agricultural fields. Along it you will cross several times the regional road, passing by the old whale watching tower, place used by the ancients to watch and locate the different cetaceans species.

This linear route connects the town of Povoação to the village of Faial da Terra, a connection between the geosites of Caldeira of Povoação and the stream valley of Faial da Terra and Fajã do Calhau. Begin the walk by the road accessing Lomba dos Pós and follow the marks until you find a dirt road, on the right hand side that formerly connected the two villages. Along the way, it is still possible to do sidewalks done in the past by the local population.

This linear route connects the place of Remédios to the village of Água do Pau, through ancient roads used by the watermen, taking the water to the parish of Lagoa. The trail crosses several resources connected to this line of activity such as old bridges, aqueducts, clay pipelines, levadas (watercourses) and some tunnels. To cross the tunnels, it is advisable the use of lanterns and before starting the trail be sure you are suitably equipped. Along the trail, it is necessary to pay special attention for the presence of animals that should not be disturbed.

This linear route connects the village of Ribeira Chã to Água de Pau. Begin the trail at the center of the locality, known for its museums, mainly the Sacred Art and Ethnographic, the Ethnographic Yard and Azorean Endemism as well as the Rural House of Maria dos Anjos Melo, where we can see all the history, culture and heritage of this place. Rich for its gastronomy, Ribeira Chã is known for its Italian Arum cereal flour porridge, a typical sweet of the village, done with the rhizome of the plant known on the island as Italian Arum (Arum italicum).

Questo percorso inizia in prossimità della zona boscosa detta Mata do Canário, nella parte ovest dell’isola.

Comincerete scendendo sul sentiero fino a raggiungere l’asfalto. Girerete a sinistra e continuerete a camminare per circa 300 metri accanto all’acquedotto, fino al cosidetto Muro das Nove Janelas (muro delle nove finestre).

Continuerete sul sentiero sterrato verso sinistra, tra gli alberi di criptomeria. Poco dopo salirete lungo il sentiero fino a trovare il primo belvedere sul lago detto Lagoa das Sete Cidades, sul Pico da Cruz.

Questo percorso comincia dal belvedere chiamato Miradouro da Vista do Rei (‘veduta del re’), e termina nel paese di Sete Cidades dopo circa 2 ore di cammino.

Si inizia dal pendio ovest della Cumeeira da Caldeira das Sete Cidades, potendosi da qui osservare a destra la Caldeira Seca e i laghi di  Sete Cidades, ed a sinistra la costa ovest dell’isola di São Miguel.