Location
Man's voluntary efforts explored and colonised this volcanic island, which is the second smallest in the Azores archipelago, but great in everything that makes it ‘Gracious’.
Classified by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, Graciosa has eight protected areas, one of which is the Caldeira da Graciosa Natural Monument, one of the island's many volcanic attractions, filled with volcanic caves and cavities.
Characterised by lush green fields and secluded coves, as well as windmills with their curious reddish domes, testimony to the abundant cereal production, Graciosa has numerous points of interest. You can't miss the emblematic Furna do Enxofre, an impressive volcanic grotto that is the largest in Europe, the aforementioned Caldeira, the former crater of the volcano that gave rise to the island, and the natural pools of Termas de Carapacho. The island's architectural heritage includes churches and hermitages and a centuries-old network of reservoirs and drinking water supply systems that are proof of man's ingenuity in making this wilderness stronghold habitable.
Adding to the island's charms, Vila de Santa Cruz, which is home to the Hotel da Graciosa, is a picturesque town of cobbled streets that branch off from a central square with a bandstand, water tanks and araucaria trees. It's no coincidence that in November 2024 it was voted one of the Best Tourist Villages 2024 by the World Tourism Organisation.