Azores Pictures

Island of Graciosa it has a surface area of 61 km2 and is the least humid island of the archipelago. It was given the nickname of the white island due to the delicate landscape and the names given to certain places including “Pedras Brancas” or White Stones, “Serra Branca” or White Mountainside, and “Barro Branco” or White Clay.The town of “Santa Cruz” is the seat of the only municipality on the island that bears the same name. In the town centre two water reservoirs are found. Although their original use was to provide water for the cows of the area they now reflect the tranquil crowns of the Brazilian pines and the elms surrounding them. This effect contributes to the already agreeable surroundings of the town centre. The architectural patrimony is demonstrated in the following structures:In the town of Santa Cruz, the “Igreja de Santa Cruz” (mother church), “Santo Cristo” Churches, and the “Nª Sª da Ajuda” (Our Lady of Charity), “São João” and “São Salvador” Chapels along with the “Cruz da Barra” (Iron Cross) and the Ethnographic Museum which contains items related to the culture of wine and the now defunct whaling industry, are definitely worth visiting;In Guadalupe, the Church of “Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe” (Our Lady of Guadalupe) is recommended followed by a visit to, “Nossa Senhora da Luz” (Our Lady of Light) in Luz and “São Mateus” in Praia