PLACES AND CLIMATE: 
Included in the Oriental Group, Santa Maria is situated 55 miles south of S. Miguel. It is the most meridional island of the archipelago.
With deep bays, the island of Santa Maria has 97,42 km2 surface, with 17 km long and 9,5 km maximum width. After a flat hill, follows a rocky area where Pico Alto (590 m high) is and it is at 28º 08' longitude west and 37º 43' latitude north.
The climate is mild, with medium temperatures which vary between 12º C (54º F) in the winter and 25º C (77º F) in the summer.
BRIEF ISLAND STORIES:
The discovery of Santa Maria , as well as the Azorean Archipelago is controversial. It is known that, in the beginning of the XV century, the islands were found by navigator Diogo Silves' ships and possibly in 1427, Infant D. Henrique ordered for animals to be brought to them – cows, sheep and pigs.
Colonization began years later with people coming from the mainland Portugal, commanded by Gonçalo Velho, named the island's captain-beneficiary, probably in the Praia de Lobos (Wolf Beach) area, named like that because it had sea wolves.
Soon though, the Porto bay proved to be the safest docking place and that's where the following settlers docked at. Because of this, in 1470 it became the first village of the Azores.
Wheat – exported to Mainland Portugal and, for a few decades to the strong Portuguese markets of Morocco and pastel and canary moss (plants used as dye) which was sought in the main textile center in the North of Europe, were the islands' economic support until the end of the XVII century.
The XVIII and XIX centuries were quiet times but, also of a reduction of the islands' economic importance, motivated by the change in technologies and markets leading to the increase of emigration.
Today, Santa Maria has in fishing, agriculture and farming the islands' economic support to which the port and airport give a new dimension and open future perspective.
PLACES TO VISIT:
Santa Maria is the only island of the Archipelago which the soil is of a sedimentar origin, where it is easy to find a great variety of fossils of molusculs and other bigger species. It has a variety of different sights, with a very hilly side at northwest, where the villages of Santa Bárbara and Santo Espírito are situated and of a plateau where the villages of Vila do Porto , Almagreira are, as well as the airport.
The entire coast is indented, either by points, and by bays, which offer great possiblities for water sports.
Vila do Porto. First Azorean village, it still preserves the original look of a medieval village. The church Matriz, São Francisco convent and the Fort of São Brás are of mandatory visit.
Ermida de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos . Place where Columbus crew prayed on their way back from discovering America .
Praia Formosa constitutes one of the islands' most appreciated places, especially in the summer time because of its long white sandy beach. It is also internationally known as one of the best places to surf.
Baía de São Lourenço , to northwest offers a magnificent view and it is a great place to spend the summer. The typical vineyards climb the hills and the bay has an amazing white beach sand, where the islet Ilhéu do Romeiro is , embellished by a curious cave with stalactites and stalagmites, accessible by boat and with a natural interior pier.
Maia and Anjos are other places to include on your “to see” list. In these summer places, you can swim in natural swimming pools of clear waters, formed by volcanic rocks.
The bays of S. Lourenço, Anjos and Maia are considered natural reservations.
Several belvederes are the panoramic of the coast, like Fontinhas, Lagoinhas and Espigão, over São Lourenço bay.
Picos , a group of elevations situated in the middle of Santa Maria , with vestiges of primitive vegetation, the same kind settlers found when they arrived on the island. Pico Alto (590 m) is its highest altitude. From its belvedere, you can enjoy beautiful sights of almost the entire island.
Volcanic activities, which originated the island offer speleology lovers fissures and tunnels, known as “furnas”, where it is possible to enter Earth's secrets.
Furna das Pombas, 337 meters long and Furna dos Anjos , 118 meters long both deserving of a guided visit, with the appropriate equipment.
Formigas , a group os 8 islets, situated at 37 km off the coast of Santa Maria is an area rich in underwater fauna as well as where sea birds nest, being this the reason why it is considered a natural reserve.
MUSEUMS:
Museu de Santa Maria
FESTIVALS:
Festival Maré de Agosto – during the month of August
Festas de Nossa Senhora da Assunção – August 7th. Santa Maria car Rally is also included in these festivities, on 6-8 August as well as several typical activities.
SPORTS AND LEASURE:
-The beaches of São Lourenço and Praia Formosa , considered the queen of the island's beaches because of its length and white sand are two exquisite places to go swimming. The beaches of calhau do Figueiral and Baía dos Lobos as well as the small beaches of Prainha and Praia do Sul, reachable by foot or by boat, and lastly the natural swimming pools of S. Lourenço, Maia and Anjos are other places to enjoy fun times
- Nautical sports , the bays of São Lourenço and Praia Formosa offer unique conditions for the practice of windsurf, sailing, water ski and surf.
-Scuba diving , the multicolor sea bottom of the oriental side of Prainha, as well as Gruta dos Xaréus, are a temptation to everyone who loves to observe sea life.
-Fishing
-Snorkeling
-Fishing sites, numerous fishing sites offer good captures of porkfish, atherine, barracuda, anchovy amongst other fish.
-Hunting, the abundance of rabbit invites to hunt.
-Hiking, the soft lines of the island, without any hills but with breathtaking sights over land and sea, allow for pleasant and invigorating walks.
ARTS AND CRAFTS:
-knitting
-Straw work
-Wicker work
-Juncaceae work
-Sheep wool work
-Wood work
-Patchwork
-Hats
-Typical dolls
GASTRONOMY:
Typical dishes – Turnip soup, “bolo na panela”, “caçoila”, “molhos de porco”, Império soup are dishes of a very tasty and typical cuisine.
Seafood – Lobster, “cavaco”, crab, mussels, etc satisfy seafood lovers.
Pastry – It is on the pastry that Santa Maria excels. For centuries our pastry has been prepared with care. We have: “suspiros”, “melindre”, “biscoitos-de-orelha”, “cavacas”, “encanelados”, “brindeirinhos”, “biscoitos de aguardente”, “tigeladas”, “biscoitos estalados” and “bolinhos de consoada”.
Wines – The S. Lourenço fields produce “vinho de cheiro”, so appreciated by Azoreans. “Aguardente da terra”, “vinho abafado”, “vinho bastardinho”, “blackberry liqueur” and “milk liqueur” constitute after meal drinks produced on the island the old fashion way.
RESTAURANTS:
Restaurante Atlântida - specialties: typical cuisine – Vila do Porto
Restaurante O Ilhéu - specialties: grilled fish and seafood - Vila do Porto
Restaurante Padaria Velha- specialites: Internacional cuisine – Vila do Porto
Restaurante Churrasqueira Pipas – Vila do Porto
Restaurante A Canoa – Vila do Porto
Restaurante Praia Formosa - specialties: typical cuisine, varied menu - Praia Formosa
BARS AND DISCOTEQUES:
Convés Bar – Praia Formosa
Paquete Disco – Praia Formosa
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Versão Portuguesa
