Sightseeing in Graciosa - what to see. Complete travel guide

Graciosa is one of the most interesting and peculiar islands of the Azores. Incredibly beautiful landscapes, an abundance of miniature snow-white buildings, a picturesque coast and a pleasant atmosphere of tranquility and harmony - these are the main distinguishing features of the charming volcanic island. Graciosa has long attracted travellers, who love to be close to nature. There are a lot of beautiful places for walks, magnificent beaches and fascinating historical sites.

One of the symbols of the island are windmills. Quite recently, they numbered about more than thirty. Nowadays, guests of Graciosa can see only four of them. Two windmills are located in the capital of the island. A significant part of historical buildings, interesting to explore, is concentrated on the territory of the capital. The city of Santa Cruz de Graciosa resembles a large open-air museum.

In addition to the windmills, many original old streets and luxurious mansions that have adorned the island since colonial times, have been preserved here in their original form. One of the oldest buildings is Church of Santa Cristo, the construction of which took place in the 16th century. The religious landmark has witnessed many important historical events. It is a unique architectural monument with many nice features. The religious structure of the later period is a Cathedral, which was founded at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. It also managed to survive almost pristine. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Guadalupe Church is a true example of the early Baroque, which is sure to interest lovers of ancient architecture. Among other outstanding sights of the capital, it is necessary to mention the Local History Museum with its rich collection of historical finds. In addition to unique historical sites on the territory of Graciosa Island, there are curious natural attractions.

A sulphurous cave Furna do Enxofre remains one of the most visited landmarks. It's a very interesting natural formation, that has been formed exclusively under the influence of the forces of nature. The entrance to the cave is located in the crater of an extinct volcano. Its depth is about 100 meters. The tunnel ends up with a large grotto with a domed vault whose height is about 18 meters. There is also a crystal clear sulphurous lake, whose diameter is 130 meters. Admiring this magnificence, it is hard to imagine that such an orderly and harmonious creation appeared without human participation.

Carapacho area, known for its healing mineral springs, is also among natural landmarks. Here, two high hills Facho and Timão are located. They are ideal places for admiring the picturesque landscape. A usual walk through the ancient streets will also give a lot of impressions. Everywhere you can see beautiful architectural structures, encircled in lush gardens and the abundance of flowers.

An absolutely charming small island with exotic nature, Graciosa will impress gourmet travelers. Local gastronomic traditions were much shaped by the Portuguese cuisine. Local restaurants offer a fantastic choice of meals with fish and seafood. Stewed and roasted fish is the usual food of locals that they eat on an everyday basis. Besides fish, local restaurants offer lobsters and crabs, as well as various mussels.

Travelers, who are indifferent to fish and seafood, will be charmed by local pastries. Queijadas da ilha graciosa is a popular dessert on the island. This dish is somewhat reminiscent of traditional cottage cheese pancakes. The island is also famous for its special type of sweet bread that is called massa sovada. Lamperia de ovos is one more popular national dish that is cooked from eggs. On Graciosa, there are several wineries that produce magnificent white wine. Besides wine appetizers, guests can order locally made brandy.

Despite the fact that the island’s coast is a rocky one, there are several quality beaches covered with volcanic sand. The majority of coastal areas suitable for beach recreation are located on the south and east coasts. As a rule, fans of swimming and sunbathing head to such picturesque settlements as Caleta de Sebo and Casas de Perdo Barba. Coastal waters have rich underwater life, so it is not rare to see people with snorkeling masks on local beaches. There are also several suitable areas for divers where they can enjoy the gorgeous underwater world.