Feliks Magus: Exceptional year for Tallinn

Portugal’s best kept secret
AZORES: 9 islands, one paradise
The archipelago of Azores is part of Portugal. The islands are situated
1500 km from Lisbon, in the Atlantic Ocean.
nEach of the nine Azorean islands has
its own charm, but nevertheless they
present common characteristics: a volcanic
origin; the exuberance and greatness
of the landscapes; the inhabitants’ way of
life; an abundance of historical testimonies
about the deep relationship of dependence
between Man and Nature that, in
an unusual way, makes the Azores the
ideal place for your holidays.
São Miguel, the largest island, features
three large and beautiful lakes,
Sete Cidades, Furnas and Fogo, and the
bustle of life in the port town of Ponta
Delgada. Nearby is Santa Maria with the
steep slopes of São Louren∆o Bay covered
in vines, and the chapel of Anjos
where Columbus prayed on his return
from discovering America. Terceira has
all the history of Angra do Heroísmo,
classified as a UNESCO World Heritage
site. Faial shines in the blue of its hydrangeas
and is a famous welcoming port for
yachtsmen and sailors. In front is the
mountain that rises out of the sea and the
whaling island of Pico, with its vineyard
landscape classified as UNESCO World
Heritage. The little parcels of land – the
fajãs – nestling by the ocean at the base
of steep cliffs make up the natural beauty
of São Jorge. Graciosa has a mysterious
lake at the bottom of a volcanic crater
and fields of vines dotted by windmills.
Flores is an ocean-side garden of fasci-
destination travel news profile
nating beauty, with a series of volcanic
lakes. Corvo, a mini-island, holds a broad
and beautiful crater in its centre.
Azores as a tourist destination is,
therefore, a unique place for the creation
of thematic products inspired by nature,
such as: whale watching and the observation
of other cetaceans that live in great
abundance in the Azorean seas; walking
trails, preserved and intact throughout
the centuries; golf, practiced in a landscape
bordered by flowers; and diving, to
discover the flora and fauna of the sea.
The archipelago is also a business
destination that offers modern, multifunctional
and high-quality facilities for
the Meetings Industry.
It is in the balance between Man
and Nature that the development of the
Azores has been based. This allows the
Archipelago to become a unique and different
destination, favourable to receiving
tourists all year long, due to the existence
of a mild climate.
This sustainability policy lead by
the Government, has allowed the Azores
to be recognized not only at a national
level but also abroad, and examples of it
are prizes and recognitions we have won,
like the “Quality Coast” (2009 – Spain); 2 nd
Best Islands in the World for Sustainable
Tourism by National Geographic Traveller
(2009); to be among the “10 Top World Destinations
for Whale Watching” (Telegraph);
to be classified in 2010 as “The World’s
Most Unique Travel Destinations” by Forbes
Magazine (2010) and, since September
2010, two of the seven of Portugal’s Natural
Wonders are in the Azores – Pico Mountain
and Sete Cidades Lake (S. Miguel). n
travel news
22 No.2/2011 Baltic Stand By www.standbynews.info www.standbynews.info
Baltic Stand By No.2/2011 23