Culture of Ilha do Faial. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Faial is one of the islands of the Azores archipelago. This is a beautiful place that attracts many tourists every year. It is also called "Hydrangea Island" or "Blue Island". The fields planted with these magnificent bright blue flowers amaze almost everyone who comes here. Eco-tourism is particularly developed here. Travelers come here to see the volcanic craters and valleys and to make hiking trips to the most beautiful places. However, fans of cultural attractions will also find things to do here.

You should start your journey with the city of Horta. You will see old houses on the old cobbled streets and will be able to feel the atmosphere of the island here. You should definitely get to the waterfront. One of the island's most unique cultural sites is located in the port. This is a concrete watershed. It is covered with writing and drawings of sailors who come to the shores of the island. There is a belief that if the ship's crew leaves the ship's name or drawing in the port, the voyage will be successful.

Be sure to visit Horta Regional Museum. It is located in the former Jesuit college building. You can learn about the island's history and culture here. You will see various exhibits related to navigation. Ship's gear, photographs, furniture, clothing, personal items, and utensils used by the residents of Faial are among them. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Another interesting museum is located on the second floor of the Peter Cafe Sport bar. This is a small room. You can see various crafts made from whale bones and sperm whale teeth here. You can also admire the elegant carvings, bracelets, hairpins, jewelry, and other accessories. Pictures, coins, and other objects connected with the whale fishery are also presented in the exhibition. Hunting whales and sperm whales has been the main occupation of the islanders for many years. Local people will be happy to tell you amazing and heroic stories about it even today. The bar can also be included in the list of Horta attractions. This is a place that sailors have been visiting for more than a century. However, everyone can have lunch or a cup of tea here.

You should definitely see the old churches of the island. There are many of them here. Most of them were built in the XVII-XVIII centuries. The interiors will impress you with beautiful gilded carvings and antique tiles.

However, natural beauty deserves special attention, of course. You can start getting to know them at Horta. An amazing place is located in the coastal area of Punta Furada. Lava flows mixed with seawater formed picturesque caves, arches, labyrinths, and grottoes here. The stunning landscape is amazing. According to legend, numerous treasures are hidden in caves. However, no one has ever been able to find anything of value here. But treasure hunters, who do not lose hope, come here all the time. They expect to find the treasure. This is also a great place for rock climbing.

You should visit the Caldera crater. This is a protected area today. A unique relict beech forest has been preserved here. The crater is huge. There are several small but very picturesque lakes at its bottom. A 10km long walking route runs along the edge of the crater. A magnificent view of the bottom and surrounding area opens from its edge. If there is no fog, you can see the neighboring Pico Island and the city of Horta. However, you can move around the protected area only with a guide.

Capelinhos volcano is another place that you must to visit. It is located on the western side of the island. The Faial area was increased by about 2 km about 60 years ago due to the eruption of this volcano. The area is quite deserted and resembles the scenery of some disaster movies today. Filming sometimes takes place here, by the way. If you are lucky, you will be able to watch the filming process.

The lighthouse serves as a monument to the eruption and evidence that the island was smaller in the past. It miraculously survived the natural cataclysm. It is a grey tower with a glass dome. The passage to the lighthouse is closed due to the unreliability of the structure today. However, you can visit the museum. It is located at its base. Its exhibition is dedicated to the events of 60 years ago and volcanic activity in general.

You should climb to the highest point of the island. This is the mountain of Gorda. You can see almost the entire island from the observation deck. You can also take a walk on the so-called Levada. This is a path along the coast. The views are stunning here. You should also take part in sea trips to see whales and sperm whales up close. They swim up to the shores of the sea. There are few places in the world where you can meet these sea giants. Therefore, many people come to the island for this purpose.