AZORES

By Prapti

#The Laoga das Sate Cidades-‘Lagoon of the Seven Cities’-is a twi lake inside a dormant volcano on the Azorean island of Sao Miguel

AT around 850 miles from the European mailand, the Azores are the MOST WESTERLY PART of the continent. Discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1431, they later became a popular stop fro treasureladen galleons plying trade routes between Europe and the Americas.

Mount Pico, on Pico Island, is the HIGHEST MOUNTAIN frequent Azorean waters, and more than 300 types of bird have been recorded. The islands may have been named after the goshawk (acor in Portugues), although there are no such birds here – a case of mistaken identity by early sailors.

The Azores are known for their TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS, such as the annual Batalha das Limas in the town of Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel island. Local gather in the streets with limas (wax containers full of water) and water balloons to take part in a riotous water fight. # UNESCO – listed Angra do heroism provides as photogenic backdrop to the festival Sao Joao, celebrated each year on 24 june

The archipelago has been mooted as a possible location of ATLANTIS. Beginning in medieval times, there were rumours of nine mysterious mid-Atlantic islands – with names like the Forutnate isles and islands of Seven Cities (now immortalized in local place names).

Top Travel Experiences

Spot whales and dolphins on a boat trip off the Azorean archipelago, whose waters are one of the best places in the world to view the creatures.

Enjoy one of the many festivals in the old town of Angra do heroism on Terceira island, a Unesco-listed quarter of cobbled streets, centuries-old forts, churches and palaces.

Climb to the summit of Mount Pico (Pico Island) where, on clear days, views extend across four neighbouring islands.

Walk the coastal paths and crater lakes of Sao Miguel island, taking in the blue and emerald pools of Caldeira das Sete Cidades and the hot springs and geysers at Furnas.