Povoação

On the south-east coast of São Miguel, Povoação is where the island’s history began — the first settlers landed here in the fifteenth century. Sheltered by green hills and close to the famous Furnas valley, it is a quiet town with deep roots.

History and identity

Povoação was the first settlement of São Miguel, founded in the 1430s, and served as the island’s early administrative centre. Its name — “settlement” — recalls that origin, and the town keeps the atmosphere of the old Azorean villages, with its churches and its views over the sea.

What to see and do

• The town centre, with its churches and old houses.
• The viewpoints over the coast and the green hills.
• The nearby Furnas valley, with its hot springs and lake.
• The coastal roads and small beaches of the south-east.

Gastronomy and traditions

Povoação shares the flavours of São Miguel — fresh fish, local beef and the famous Furnas stew, cooked in the volcanic ground of the nearby valley — and its festivals, with their processions and music, are part of the Azorean calendar.

Nearby

The council includes the valley of Furnas, with the Lagoa das Furnas, the Parque Terra Nostra and the thermal springs of Caldeira Velha.

Visiting Povoação

Povoação is on the south-east coast of São Miguel, about 60 kilometres from Ponta Delgada, reached by road. Access to the town is free; for local services and events, check with the municipality before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-povoacao.pt.

Image credit: Povoação, São Miguel, Azores, by Portuguese_eyes, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.