The Azores and Madeira Portugal

The Azores and Madeira Archipelagos

Portugal has two autonomous island regions, the Azores and Madeira. Both of these archipelagos are located in the Atlantic Ocean and have their own legislative bodies and regional presidents. While Madeira is located in a sub-tropical region and is a popular year-round holiday location, the Azores are more temperate and have largely escaped the mass tourism of many other areas.

The Azores are located about 1,400 kilometers west of Portugal and are approximately one-third of the way across the Atlantic Ocean. This archipelago consists of three groups of volcanic islands spread nearly 650 kilometers apart. There are a total of nine main, inhabited islands and numerous small, uninhabited ones.

The two easternmost of the Azores are Sao Miguel, the largest island in the group and home to the capital city Ponta Delgado, as well as Santa Maria, 55 kilometers to the south. The middle group of islands consists of Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial. Farther to the west are the two remote, weather-beaten islands of Flores and Corvo.

The tallest point in the islands is Pico Mountain, or Volcano, which reaches to 2,350 meters and is also the tallest point in all of Portugal. The population of the Azores is approximately 240,000, with over half (130,000) located on Sao Miguel. The next largest population is on Terceira, with some 55,000 residents. The least populated island is Corvo, the northernmost of all the Azores with less than 1,000 full time inhabitants.

The climate on the Azores is mild throughout the year, with no great extremes in temperature. Winters are cooler, but not cold, and summers can get warm in the days but are never too hot. It rains year round, with the winter months being a little wetter. The islands’ volcanic origins makes them fairly rugged, with steep peaks, craters and lakes, and plenty of green pastures and farms.

The economy of the Azores is based on farming and fishing, as well as being a transatlantic base for a number of activities. Most of the islanders are occupied in the traditional industries with many family farms and fishing boats on all the islands. Sao Miguel is also known as a therapeutic resort and is the major tourist destination. The volcanic hot springs and mineral waters are a favorite for many who know about them.

Ponta Delgada is the capital city and sits on the southwest of Sao Miguel. It is the largest city in the islands, with a population of 65,000 residents in its urban area. This is the capital, not only for the region, but also for tourism in the islands. It has a large harbor where boats and cruise ships from all over the world can dock, as well as the major commercial airport. From here, visitors can explore this island as well as take flights and ferries to the other islands. In addition to the regional government, Ponta Delgado has a university, several 2nd division Liga football teams and a popular nightlife.

Of the other islands in the Azores Archipelago, Terceira is the most developed. There is an American-run airbase at Lajes that has been here since World War II, providing a steady flow of personnel who live and visit the island. The port town of Angra do Heroismo has long been a stopping point for Atlantic ships and explorers. In centuries past, the harbor glittered with ships from Europe heading to and from the Americas, often laden with gold and other treasures.

Madeira is a much more popular tourist destination than the Azores, due in large part to its consistent year round climate. There are two main islands in the Madeira archipelago, Madeira itself and the much smaller Porto Santo. Madeira has a diverse economy, with agriculture being very important. Production of the famous fortified wine from this island is still an important industry, and tourism is increasingly important. There is also a growing service sector, promoting offshore banking and other businesses. For a more complete look into Madeira, please look at the section on the Madeira Archipelago.

Property for sale in the Azores tends to be fairly limited in terms of what is available. Many who visit the islands come back year after year and finally find a place they want. It often takes a while to find the right place on the Azores. Sao Miguel is the largest and most populous island, and has the most properties available. Due to the small amount of available property, good housing can be expensive.

Although Madeira is limited in size, there are many more properties available for purchase. Small apartments in and around Funchal can be had for less than €100,000, while nice houses and villas can be much more expensive. Both of these archipelagos have own their charms and attractions and can make for very nice places to live or visit.

Getting to the Azores and Madeira usually involves flying, but many people choose to sail or take a cruise ship to the islands. All of the inhabited islands have their own airport for inter-island travel, but the major international airport is on Sao Miguel. Joao Paulo II Airport (PDL), named for Pope John Paul II, is located about three kilometers west of Ponta Delgada. There are flights to all the other Azores islands, as well as Madeira and the mainland. International flights frequently stop here and there are some carriers that fly direct from European cities.

Madeira Airport (FNC) is the major international airport for this island group. The airport has daily flights to and from Lisbon and Porto, from which you can get connections to just about anywhere. There are also a number of carriers that have direct flights to Madeira, including several discount airlines such as Easyjet and Thomsonfly. Porto Santos has its own airport with daily flights to and from Madeira.