What to see?

The island counts with the following churches:

Igreja de Santa Cruz (mother church). Was built in the XVI century, and rebuilt and enlarged in the XVIII. The inside possess an important altar-piece painted in wood, glazed tiles of the XVIII century and beautiful panels, just as a whole group of images of the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries.

(Cruz da Barra) Iron Cross. With a manuelito style, dates from the XVI century. Proceeds, according to the tradition, from the city of Guimaraes.

“Santo Cristo” Church. A XVI century building, with carved altars and an interesting collection of images. Typical windmills are located and scattered by almost all the island and in the nearness of Santa Cruz.

“San Mateo” Church: A XVI century building and rebuilt in the XIX century. Contains images from the XVI and the XVII century.

“Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe” (Our Lady of Guadalupe). A XVIII century building, with an Azorean baroque style.

“Nossa Senhora da Vitória” Chapel. Built in the XVII century commemorates the victory over the Algerian pirates.

It can also be found in the Island interesting museums, among those who emphasize:

Ethnographic Museum. Represents the living of the island across of a variety collection of toys, chests, kitchen implements, a wine press, suites and souvenirs brought by the immigrants that went to North America. An adjacent building integrated in this ethnographic space holds a whaling ship. The museum has developed during the years a full activity program that goes from expositions of sculptures, pottery, ethnographic suites, and textiles to the realization of entertainments.

From the natural heritage of the island, emphasizing the following spaces:

Furna do enxofre: It is a volcanic phenomenon very interesting and of great value for science. The caves are located in some caverns where the access is descending by a spiral ladder down to a huge volcanic cavern where a lagoon of 130 meters of diameter and 100 of depth exists, of hot waters and with sulphide. It should be visited preferably between 11:00 and 14:00hrs. when the light of the sun penetrates easier for the narrowed mouth that gives access to the surface, illuminating its interior. With the company of a guide and with the adequate equipment, las Furnas dos Bolos, Manuel de Ávila, Furada, Linheiro, Lembradeira, Cardo, Cao, Gato, Queimado, Labarda, Castelo, Calcinhas, Vermelho, Urze and Luís can be visited.

Furna María Encantada: Natural tunnel across a rock that conducts to the edge of the crater and where from the views of the island are beautiful.

Monte de Ajuda: Gives an extended panoramic of the Santa Cruz villa, from the north part of the island covered with vineyards up to the inner ground of Guadalupe. The three chapels that rise in the highest points of the mountain can be visited.

Caldirinha. This elevation has a panoramic view not only of the island but also of the rest of the islands of the central group: Terceira, Sâo Jorge, Pico and Faial.

·The Pico Timón (398 meters) and the Pico de la Antorcha (375 meters) are covered with primitive vegetation.

The Carapacho Spa: Its waters with sulphide and therapeutic effect offer treatments for the rheumatism and skin sickness. This zone has a camping park and a spa zone with waters that welcomes a good bathing.

Whale Island. Called with this name for been alike a gigantic cetacean anchored on the seashore.

The small island of la Playa. Covered with vegetation, is a nest zone for the migratory birds.