The small island of Graciosa (not to be confused with La Graciosa, in Spain) is one of the northernmost in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. This paradisiacal territory was named UNESCO World Biosphere Reserveand now to that classification, another recognition from the international organization is added.
On this occasion, the only municipality on the island, Santa Cruz da Graciosahas been included by UN Tourism in the list ‘Best Tourism Villages 2024‘. Thus, it becomes one of the best towns in the world to travel tothanks to its impressive landscapes, the promotion of culture and the development of sustainable tourism.
Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Santa Cruz da Graciosa is divided into four parishes: Vila de Santa Cruz, Vila da Praia, Guadalupe and Luzthus covering the entire territory of the island. In the main center, Vila de Santa Cruz, visitors will be able to walk among houses with traditional architecture, cobbled streets and religious temples such as the Mother Church of Santa Cruz de Graciosato which is added that of Santo Cristo and the Cruz da Barra.
On the other hand, it is also worth approaching the Ethnographic Museumwhich recreates cultural aspects of the island in a building that reproduces a typical house in the area. It also exhibits elements related to traditional crafts such as pottery, original cannons of the old fortifications that defended the island. Two other museum centers are added to this center, one about whaling activity and another located in a mill.
A perfect viewpoint to see the horizon of white houses and orange roofs of the town is that of Monte de Our Lady of Helplocated next to a simple but beautiful chapel. Added to the panoramic view are windmills, extensive fields of crops and the immensity of the Atlantic. We will even be able to see “a curious association of the invention of man and the geological nature of the Azores: a bullring inside a volcanic crater“, they explain from Azores Tourism.
The White Island
With 12.5 km long and 7 km wide, Graciosa receives the nickname of the White Islanda place name inspired by some of its natural enclaves such as Pedras Brancas, Serra Branca and Barro Branco, rich in a whitish stone called trachyte.
However, the most spectacular landscape that we can find in the place is the Graciosa Caldera. Classified as a Regional Natural Monument, it is a huge volcanic crater covered with vegetation planted by man, such as acacias and pines. We will get the best views of the volcanic depression from the Enchanted Maria Cavewhile inside the volcano we will find a cavity named Furna do Enxofre with about 40 meters high in its central part.
On the rugged island coast we will also enjoy forawesome jesfrom the cliffs of Serra Branca and Ponta da Restinga, to the bays of Vitória and Folga, passing through the islet of Praia, located in front of the only beach in all of Graciosa, São Mateus.