Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
#9 Azores
© Wikimedia / Hansueli Krapf
Situated over one and a half thousand kilometres off the coast of Lisbon, the Azores are
an archipelago of nine islands and one of two autonomous regions of Portugal. The nine
islands; Flores, Corvo, Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, São Miguel, and Santa
Maria are spread over a distance of 600 kilometres and also encompass the Formigas Reef.
The location of the islands allows for a warm and tropical climate and an abundance of life,
while the volcanic origins provide stunning natural beauty. However, each island has its own
personality, culture, and history to enjoy.
History & Culture
A number of carvings discovered in caves on Santa Maria, Corvo, and Terceria indicate there
may have been humans living on the islands over 2,000 years ago. However, there are other
explanations for the findings and as yet they are unconfirmed. The official discovery of the
islands occurred in the 14
th
Century when the islands began appearing on maps and in the
mid-15th Century settlement of the islands began.
The first island to be settled was Santa Maria, followed by São Miguel, and over the follow-
ing centuries the remaining seven islands became inhabited. By the 16
th
Century, the Azores
were suffering from overpopulation, leading to mass emigration to Brazil. For a brief time
between 1580 and 1642, Spain held the Azores until they were returned to Portugal at the
end of the Iberian Union. Between 1836 and 1976, the islands were split into three distinct
districts; Angra do Heroismo, Horta, and Ponta Delgada, becoming the Autonomous Region
of the Azores.
