Important information - passengers travelling from Norwich International Airport.
An Airport Development Fee (ADF) will be charged at the airport, payable per passenger on departure. The ADF is £5 per adult,
£1 per child (2 to 15 years, under 2 free).
For more information, please visit the
Norwich Airport website.
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An Introduction to The Azores
Discovered in the 15th century by navigators en route
to the New World, the Portuguese islands of the Azores
are an archipelago of nine beautiful islands set in the
Atlantic Ocean approximately 1,400 km from Portugal's
capital city, Lisbon and 3,900 km from the east coast of
North America.
The volcanic origin of these islands has produced outstanding
natural beauty and to capture this unique landscape on canvas
would require great skill and an extensive palette to have any
hope of portraying the vast green valleys, vibrant blue lakes
and eye catching black cliffs that rise up from the ocean.
The hot mineral springs and geysers add a glorious tranquillity
to the scene, which is nearly impossible to find anywhere
else in the world.
Our programme is based on the island of São Miguel, also known
as the "Green Island", which is around 65 km long and 16 km
broad at the widest point. Supporting a population of 132,000
inhabitants São Miguel is the largest of the archipelago, covering
an area of approximately 760 square km.
The picturesque capital city of Ponta Delgada, which is situated
to the west of the island provides both character and amenities
as historical buildings and narrow cobbled streets combine with
cafés, bars and restaurants. Just a short drive away the town of
Sete Cidades is well worth visiting for its extinct volcano crater
within which there are two lakes that are emerald green and dark
blue in colour.
The most beautiful gardens in São Miguel are to be found in the
village of Provoação on the southeast side of the island. The
nearby spa village of Furnas is blessed with what is believed to
be one of the largest thermal water sources in the world as well
as a spectacular lake bordered with azaleas and the most
beautiful botanical garden in the archipelago.
To the north lies one of the most important towns on the island,
Ribeira Grande, which is surrounded by fertile land that yields a
variety of produce including the famous tea; the Azores is the
only place where tea is grown in Europe. Further along the
awesome "Lake of Fire" is not to be missed and the mountains
provide a truly dramatic backdrop to the enormous "Lagoa do
Fogo" which was formed from an ancient volcanic eruption.
Some of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island can
also be found here.
The towns of Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo can be found lying
to the south; both of which are surrounded by large plantations
of pineapples, oranges and bananas and bordered by cliffs that
recede into the sea.
The pace of life in the Azores has changed very little over the
decades and farming and fishing remain the principal livelihood
for the Azoreans. With the exception of tourism very little
industry is evident, making these islands one of the very few
unspoilt destinations in Europe where peace and relaxation in
an unpolluted environment is guaranteed.
Although our programme is based on the island of São Miguel,
day trips to some of the other islands can be arranged through
our local representatives.
Flights to the Azores are with SATA Airlines. Outbound flights from
Manchester operate via Gatwick and inbound flights to Gatwick operate via Manchester.
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