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Calheta, São Jorge Island
Discover Calheta, the second most important city in São Jorge Island, Azores.
Calheta
© José Luís Ávila Silveira e Pedro Noronha e Costa
Calheta is the second most important city in São Jorge Island in Azores, Portugal. It has a small port, where is located the São Jorge Museum, dedicated to Francisco de Lacerda.
In the Rua 25 de Abril Street is located de Igreja de Santa Catarina Church, an 18th century church with a watch tower; various houses with iron balconies from the 18th and 19th centuries; and the Town Hall, which back side also has a park dedicated to the artist Francisco de Lacerda.
On the outskirts of the city, specifically 1 kilometre far following the coastline towards the Northeast, a little bit further than Portinho are located the houses of Fajã Grande, a children’s garden, a beautiful red wooden mill, and a mill-bar. Closer to here are located the camping zone and natural pools and on the other side of the opened cove you will find the Fajã das Almas.
To keep going by the Southern coast you must go up to Relvinha, where you will find a viewpoint, to take the road which goes down to Ribeira Seca. This city has two pazos, one of them, the Noronhas one dates from 1782, provided with an elegant chimney and a decorative chapel. At the top you can see a blue mill, one of the customary colours of this island.
On the centre of the Ribeira seca, beside the Igreja de São Tiago Church, is located a 19th century Colonial Hawaiian House, with tiles panels and a thick marquetry.
The road continues from Ribeira Seca to Topo, passing through the city of Portal, in which vicinity is located the Miradouro da Fajã dos Vimes Viewpoint, which offers a spectacular panoramic of the wooded buttress of the woods.
It is also interesting to visit the Silveira Forestal Park, located around 3 kilometres Eastern from Elvinha, where you will find a road with tree ferns, pines, cedars, and flowers. In the highest part of the park there is an overlook.
If you like hiking or want to enjoy of a good walk it is very interesting to make a hiking route departing from the former road which goes down to the Fajã dos Vimes.
One of the best dates to visit Calheta is in July, since in the second fortnight of the month is celebrated the Festival of July, where there are outdoor concerts, sports activities, ethnographic entourages, etc.
Regarding shopping, it is interesting to know that the local factory’s tinned food (Santa Catarina) are great quality ones, especially the tuna. In Fajã dos Vimes you will find some handicraft shops, one of them with several handicraft active drape used to make bedspreads.
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