Azores, 2nd; The Bradt Travel Guide

by David Sayers

• ISBN13: 9781841620831
• ISBN10: 1841620831
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2004-02-01
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

The Azores have aptly been described as the "Garden Islands" of the Atlantic, enjoying a warm climate and a multitude of species of flora and fauna. This second edition is still the only general travel guide to the Azores, and comprehensively covers all nine of the volcanic islands in this peaceful Portuguese group, 3,500 km off the coast of New York. Advice on sightseeing ranges from the architectural sites of Ponta Delgada--the capital on Satilde;o Miguel island--to pretty spa villages, pastoral windmills on Graciosa, volcanic terrain, and dramatic coastlines allowing visitors to compile their own itineraries. Suggestions for self-drive, local transportation, and walking vacations open up the options. David Sayers' expert botanical knowledge makes the Bradt guide to the Azores particularly strong on the natural history of the islands, which have been colonized with hundreds of species of exotic flowers and plants and are the home to many migrating birds.

Author Biography

David Sayers has run his own travel company specializing in botanical and natural history tours to the Azores since the 1980s. An experienced botanical horticulturist, he trained at London's famous Kew Gardens.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	viii
Introduction	iv
PART ONE THE ISLANDS
Chapter 1 Background Information	3	(32)
Location	3	(1)
Origin and invasions	3	(5)
The weather	8	(1)
Natural history	9	(6)
Social topics	15	(2)
Art and architecture	17	(10)
Festivals	27	(3)
Between the mountains and the sea - how it was in the past	30	(5)
Chapter 2 Practical Information	35	(28)
Attractions	35	(2)
When to go	37	(2)
Organised tours	39	(3)
Red tape	42	(1)
Getting there	43	(1)
Health	44	(2)
What to take	46	(1)
Money	47	(1)
Getting around	48	(1)
Accommodation	49	(1)
Eating and drinking	50	(4)
Nightlife	54	(1)
Public holidays and festivals	55	(1)
Shopping	55	(1)
Activities	56	(5)
Media and communications	61	(1)
Cultural dos and don'ts	62	(1)
PART TWO EASTERN GROUP	63	(54)
Chapter 3 Sao Miguel	65	(40)
Highlights	65	(1)
General background	66	(2)
Getting there	68	(1)
Getting around	69	(2)
Where to stay	71	(4)
Where to eat	75	(1)
Nightlife	75	(1)
Festivals	75	(2)
Useful numbers	77	(1)
Activities	77	(2)
Museums	79	(2)
What to see	81	(15)
Walks	96	(9)
Chapter 4 Santa Maria	105	(12)
Highlights	105	(1)
General background	105	(2)
Getting there	107	(1)
Getting around	108	(1)
Where to stay	108	(1)
Where to eat	109	(1)
Nightlife	109	(1)
Festivals	110	(1)
Useful numbers	110	(1)
Activities	110	(1)
What to see	111	(4)
Walks	115	(2)
PART THREE CENTRAL GROUP	117	(88)
Chapter 5 Terceira	119	(18)
Highlights	119	(1)
General background	119	(2)
Getting there	121	(1)
Getting around	121	(1)
Where to stay	122	(2)
Where to eat	124	(1)
Nightlife	124	(1)
Festivals	124	(1)
Useful numbers	125	(1)
Activities	125	(1)
Museums	126	(1)
What to see	127	(10)
Chapter 6 Graciosa	137	(14)
Highlights	137	(1)
General background	137	(2)
Getting there	139	(1)
Getting around	140	(1)
Where to stay	140	(1)
Where to eat	140	(1)
Nightlife	141	(1)
Festivals	142	(1)
Things to buy	142	(1)
Useful numbers	142	(1)
Activities	142	(1)
Museums	143	(1)
What to see	143	(4)
Walks	147	(4)
Chapter 7 Sao Jorge	151	(20)
Highlights	152	(1)
General background	152	(1)
Getting there	153	(1)
Getting around	153	(1)
Where to stay	154	(1)
Where to eat	155	(1)
Nightlife	155	(1)
Festivals	155	(1)
Useful numbers	156	(1)
Activities	156	(1)
What to see	156	(5)
Walks	161	(10)
Chapter 8 Faial	171	(18)
Highlights	171	(2)
General background	173	(2)
Getting there	175	(1)
Getting around	175	(1)
Where to stay	176	(1)
Where to eat	176	(1)
Nightlife	177	(1)
Festivals	177	(1)
Useful numbers	177	(1)
Activities	177	(2)
Museums	179	(1)
What to see	179	(6)
Touring by self-drive car	185	(4)
Chapter 9 Pico	189	(16)
Highlights	190	(1)
General background	190	(2)
Getting there	192	(1)
Getting around	192	(1)
Where to stay	193	(1)
Where to eat	194	(1)
Nightlife	195	(1)
Festivals	195	(1)
Useful telephone numbers	196	(1)
Activities	196	(1)
Museums	197	(1)
What to see	197	(1)
Car tours	198	(2)
Walks	200	(5)
PART FOUR WESTERN GROUP	205	(34)
Chapter 10 Flores	207	(24)
Highlights	208	(1)
General background	208	(2)
Getting there	210	(1)
Getting around	210	(1)
Where to stay	211	(1)
Where to eat	211	(1)
Nightlife	212	(1)
Festivals	212	(1)
Useful telephone numbers	213	(1)
Activities	213	(1)
What to see	214	(5)
Walks	219	(12)
Chapter 11 Corvo	231	(8)
Highlights	231	(1)
General background	232	(1)
Getting there	233	(1)
Getting around	234	(1)
Where to stay	234	(1)
Where to eat	234	(1)
Nightlife	234	(1)
Festivals	234	(1)
Activities	235	(1)
What to see	235	(1)
Walks	235	(4)
Appendix 1 Flora	239	(16)
Appendix 2 Language	255	(4)
Appendix 3 Further Reading	259	(2)
Index	261

Excerpts

The Azores are Europe's best kept secret: verdant, tranquil, diverse, exquisitely beautiful, always welcoming. All the islands are green, the flowers are mostly sophisticated and subtle, the gardens are steeped in history and, like the flowers, are more celebral than flamboyant. While some main towns have their roads and traffic, just a short distance away men ride horses to their pastures and pony carts filled with milk churns clatter over cobbles. Flashing neon lights are rare, streets are narrow, shops modest and in keeping with the streetscape, coffee bars are numerous while nightclubs are few. The islands reflect their turbulent geological past and offer rural landscapes enhanced by rocky or precipitous coasts surrounded by an often travel-brochure-blue sea. Religious and secular festivals riot through the calendar and touch the lives of every island and islander. There are sailing regattas, golf tournaments, big game fishing tournaments, cycle races, car rallies and other events that come as rather a surprise and largely leave the nonenthusiasts in happy oblivion. There is so much to explore, so much to experience, these islands should be savoured like a rare wine.

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Excerpted from Azores by David Sayers
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