The first records of a group of islands in the Atlantic (aside from the legends of Atlantis) came from the voyages of Portuguese sailors during the reigns of King Denis (1279-1325) and his successor King Afonso IV (1325-1357).
In 1427 the pilot Diogo de Silves found the island of Santa Maria ,at that time referred to on nautical charts as "Ilha dos Lobos" or "Ilha do Ovo", during his journey to Madeira. Myth tells that on the day of the islands discovery, that Gonçalo Velho Cabral and his crew were celebrating mass (on the feast day of the Virgin Mary), when one of the lookouts spotted the distant island, declaring "Santa Maria" and so the island was named.
Geography
It is located in the southeast corner of the Azores archipelago, 100 km south of São Miguel, and 600 km from the island of Flores (the western most island in the archipelago). It's the oldest island in the archipel geologically, with formations that are 8.12 million years old.
Climate
It has a mediterranean climate, unique in the archipelago. In the summer it is generally dry and warm and in the winter it is milder with less precipitation. Median temperatures oscillate between 14°C and 26°C.
Culture, Tradition & Tourism
As in all the islands of the Azores, there are many pedestrian walking trails and hiking circuits.
The Regional Government has preserved severals naturals landscapes that worth to be visited.
*Regional Natural Monument of Pedreira do Campo
*Protected Landscape of Barreiro da Faneca e Costa Norte
*Recreational Forest Reserve of Fontinhas
*Recreational Forest Reserve of Valverde
*Mata do Alto Recreational Forest Reserve
*Figueiral-Prainha Regional Nature Reserve
*Baía da Maia Nature Reserve
*Baía da Praia Nature Reserve
*Baía de São Lourenço Nature Reserve
*Baía dos Anjos Nature Reserve
*Ponta do Castelo Community Site of Public Interest
Natural Features
Monte Delgado
Monte das Flores
Pico Alto
Covão da Mula
Pico do Penedo
Pico do Norte
Festivities
Like the rest of the Azores, is influenced by traditional religious festivals and feasts, in particular, the festival of the "Divino Espírito Santo", closely tied to the 14th Century Queen Isabel, was implanted during the island's colonization by the Order of Christ and Franciscan monks and continues to mark the islands' calendars. These festivals include a religious ceremony, the "crowning" of one or more children with a silver-plated crown adorned with the symbols of the Holy Spirit, and culminates with a grand feast on seventh Sunday following Pentecost. On the occasion of these feasts, a traditional soup of bread soaked in a meat broth is distributed freely at the "Irmandades" and "Impérios" across the island.
The island celebrates the festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres.The most famous festivities of aanta Maria island is on August 15th of each year, the municipality also celebrates a festival in honour of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption), the patron saint of Vila do Porto, main village of the sisland.
Praia Formosa is home to a world music festival during the last week of August, many tourists and people from the others islands come to Santa Maria during the festival.
Tradition
Santa maria has a natural resource of clay and wool, the handicraft industry centered on pottery, ceramics and wool sweaters, ornate sheets, blankets, towels and other embroidery. Homespun garments include coarse woolen jerseys, embroidered linen shirts, embroidered women's jackets and estamin suits. Similarly, straw hats, baskets and various other objects traditionally made from wood, fish scales, corn flask and metal are sold as souvenirs. And also it's unique Mariense products such as bread, sweets, pastry-making and weaving.
We have Sopas do Império (served during Pentecosts, it's a kind of soup), Sopa de Nabos (a turnip soup), Bolo de Panela (a cake), Caçoila (a thick meat stew in traditional ceramic pot), Molho de Figado (a liver stew/sauce), Sopa de Peixe (a fish soup), and Caldeirada de Peixe (a mixture of fish or seafood in broth and/or bread). Sweet desserts, such as Suspiros (meringues), Melindres (honey cakes), Biscoitos Encanelados, Tigeladas (a pudding), Biscoits de Orelha, Biscoitos Brancos, Biscoitos de Aguardente and Cavacas (sugar-coated biscuits). These are what we recommend you to try while visiting this beautiful island.
Similarly, the wines of the São Lourenço foothills, as well as other wines and sweet liqueurs, have been commercialized. These include Vinho Abafadinho and Vinho Abafado (both fortified wine liquers), Licor de Amora(mulberry liquer), Licor de Leito (milk liquer) and Aguardente, which are made using traditional techniques and favored following a dinner.
Points of Interest
The rock pools and the swite sands of Anjos are very popular Tourists generally favor the white sand as well
Praia Formosa (Almagreira), Maia (Santo Espírito) and São Lourenço (Santa Bárbara). Praia Formosa, in particular, is known on the island for its white sand beach that stretches across the bay. In the remaining locals original natural rock pools have been replaced by concrete pools with seawater access.
We are waiting for you in Santa Maria !!
Let's us help you organise your holidays by contacting us at : azoresliaison@gmail.com
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