The Açores, Azores, the Portuguese volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, have a year-round temperate climate (15ºC/59ºF-21ºC/70ºF) and sumptuous, lush landscapes.

Situated in the middle of the Atlantic, off the coast of Europe, the nine islands of the Azores is home to a variety of landscapes and spectacular volcanic scenery. They are a popular destination for whale watching and for travelers who enjoy having one of the most offbeat travel experiences in Europe, walking and appreciating nature.

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1427, these islands became one of the axes of navigation between Europe, Asia, and America during the 16th and 17th centuries. Christopher Columbus, returning from his momentous 1492 voyage to the New World, first stopped in the island of Santa Maria before reaching mainland Europe in Lisbon.

The name Azores was given by Gonçalo Velho Cabral who, with Diogo Silves, landed in Santa Maria in 1427. They mistook the many buzzards there for hawks, which are called "açores" in Portuguese.

According to legend, the islands are part of the lost Atlantis, the mythical sunken empire.

Settlement began in 1439 when Prince Henry the Navigator offered land to Flemish farmers. He thought the islands could be productive and profitable, and organized the planting of wheat and sugar cane. Hardy islanders today still live by farming and fishing, and there's a significant dairy industry.

One of the Azores' newspapers, "O Açoreano," is the third oldest in Europe and from its nine islands have emerged many fine poets, novelists, and philosophers of the Portuguese culture.

All of the islands offer surprising attractions, including several festivals throughout the year, with the most famous being the Holy Spirit Festival.

On the island of Terceira, gaudy chapels ("Impérios") reflect the islanders' ardor for the Holy Spirit cult, which originated in medieval Germany and was introduced to Portugal by a 17th century Jesuit priest, Antonio Vieira. On Whit Sunday, the day of the Holy Spirit, there are processions throughout the island.

SÃO MIGUEL is the largest of the nine islands, known for an enchanting natural wonder, the Sete Cidades twin lakes. In the sunlight, one lake is blue and the other is green, best seen from a vantage point called "Vista do Rei" south of the crater. Another curiosity in the island is the food prepared in hot volcanic rock. A favorite dish is "Cozido das Furnas", in which meat and vegetables are stewed in pits in the heat of the volcanic earth. Furnas itself is a popular whitewashed town with hot springs used in the treatment of respiratory ailments and rheumatism.

Nearby is the beautiful Parque Terra Nostra, a garden with a remarkable collection of trees and plants, as well as an odd swimming pool with warm yellow water.

The capital, Ponta Delgada, is also the capital of the entire archipelago and the tourist heart of the island. Its arcades and 18th century city gates, fine baroque churches, and volcanic cones rising on distant hills are its main sights. To the north of the city gates stands the Church of São Sebastião, founded in 1533 with a fine Manueline portal intricately carved in limestone. The sacristy is decorated with tile panels and 17th century furniture.
In the center of the island is a majestically beautiful spot, Lagoa do Fogo, a crater lake formed by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century.

An activity that takes place in São Miguel that doesn't happen anywhere else in Europe is tea production.

SANTA MARIA is the island where Christopher Columbus stopped, and there is a church where he knelt in prayer and a statue commemorating his visit in the fishing village of Anjos. The village of Santo Espirito on the east coast is also worth visiting for the pretty baroque church of Nossa Senhora da Purificação, adorned with black lava decoration.
To the north is São Lourenço Bay, popular for its narrow beaches with turquoise water.
This peaceful island enjoys the most hours of sunshine and the waves of its small beaches are good for surfing.

The island of TERCEIRA was the third Azorean island to be discovered and where Vasco da Gama buried his brother Paulo after their journey to India. It is distinguished by its capital, Angra do Heroismo, which is on UNESCO's World Heritage list as a prime example of European town planning. Its 16th-century cathedral, fine churches, and mansions are all of considerable interest.

The best view of the harbor and the city is from Monte Brasil, a crater on the western side of the bay. At the foot of Monte Brasil is São João Baptista Fortress, one of the largest examples of 16th century European military architecture. Another fortress by the harbor, Fortaleza de São Sebastião, dates from the same time.

To the northeast of the island is Algar do Carvão, a dramatic volcanic hole with an enormous subterranean cave open to visitors.

A memorable experience in Terceira is the "Touradas à Corda", the running of rope-restrained bulls that takes place from spring to autumn.
The small, peaceful island of GRACIOSA is gracious, as its name suggests. It is known for its Dutch-style windmills and white houses with wrought-iron balconies and oval windows in its largest town, Santa Cruz.
On the opposite end of the island is Furna do Enxofre, where visitors can descend into a volcanic crater with a huge cave and lake of hot sulphurous water.

SÃO JORGE is mostly famous for its delicious, cured cheese, which is exported to mainland Europe. It is a long, thin mountainous island, where sheer cliffs drop to the sea, offering magnificent views of the central islands.

Almost all of the villages are set on small coastal plains called "fajãs." Fajã do Ouvidor on the north coast affords bird's eye views, as does the Fajã dos Cubres viewpoint not too far away.

The highest mountain in Portugal is located in the island of PICO, which is seen from the neighboring central islands. Soaring out of the Atlantic up to 2350m (7700ft), it is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the world's greatest mountain range, where the African, Eurasian, and American plates of the Earth's crust are being pulled apart.

In winter the peak is covered in snow, other times it is wrapped in cloud. Although it is a strenuous climb, it is a fantastic experience and an impressive sight.

The waters around the Azores are visited by a great variety of whales and dolphins, as told in Herman Melville's famous Moby Dick. Whale-watching is one of Pico's main attractions, done on small boats in the company of a guide. The trips can last for about three hours, and may be booked at the tourist office.

A small whaling museum, Museu dos Baleeiros, recalls the time when whaling was a traditional part of Azorean life. Its fine scrimshaw collection contains engraved sperm-whale teeth and ivory walrus tusks.

Pico is also known for its wine, regularly exported to mainland Europe. Its vineyards are protected as a World Heritage Site.