As you decide to go to Graciosa Island, remember that locals are Portuguese and extremely proud of it. Despite this lasting neighbouring with Spain, people here don’t like to be compared with that country. So, it’s better not to speak Spanish with the locals. They strongly believe that those people who speak it are just not aware of Portuguese. Thus, learn a few common useful phrases in Portuguese or just speak English – the majority of the population understands it, especially those who work in tourism.
Graciosa Island isn’t the largest island of the archipelago. Nevertheless, there are lots of facilities for exciting holidays with children. The best option would be to choose major … Open
Here on Graciosa Island, the local cuisine is a sort of mixture of Portuguese cooking traditions and unique cooking discoveries of local chefs. Originally, people who were coming to the … Open
If you arrange meeting with someone from the locals for the first time, it’s better to come in time, so you would give the impression of a reliable and punctual person. But then it would be pretty fine to come 10-15 minutes later on the following meetings and nobody would even ask you to excuse yourself. However, you can never come late for lunch. Lunch is the most important meal here, that is why it’s not accepted to come late for it. Restraint is highly appreciated here. One can express intense emotions only with friends – and still, even in that case there’re lots of remarks, even concerning the fact that people here speak loud and gesture.
There are no pieces of architecture older than five-and-a-half centuries old here on to Graciosa Island. The reason is simple: the archipelago is located quite far from the mainland, so … Open
Locals celebrate religious holidays in a big way. Whether it’s Christmas, Epiphany, Good Friday, All Saints' Day, Dormition of the Mother of God – families celebrate them together no matter if all of them are Catholics or not. There is the Holy Spirit Festival in The Azores which annually takes in summer. Originally, the festival was created mainly for charitable causes bur today you can also enjoy colourful processions, fairs and performances of the local performers. What is more, the local Harvest festival is exceptionally fascinating as well.