Azores: Flores

>IN THE HEART OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, 1500 KM FROM THE WEST EUROPEAN COAST, LIES THE ARCHIPELAGO OF THE AÇORES. FORMED BY NINE VULCANIC ISLANDS IN THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS, NAMED: THE ORIENTAL GROUP (SANTA MARIA AND SAO MIGUEL), THE CENTRAL GROUP (TERCEIRA, GRACIOSA, SAO JORGE, PICO AND FAIAL), AND THE WESTERN GROUP (FLORES AND CORVO) - EACH ISLAND HAS A UNIQUE NATURAL CHARACTER, A KALEIDOSCOPE OF LANDSCAPE AND PEOPLE. LIFE’S SECULAR TRADITIONS IN PERFECT BALANCE WITH NATURE.
THE AÇORES ARE A PARADISE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE NATURE. THE LANDSCAPE PRESERVES THE BEAUTY OF ITS ORIGINS; THE HARMONY OF THE CULTIVATED LANDS CLASHES WITH THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE HIGH MOUNTAINS CROSSED BY DEEP VALLEYS.
THESE ISLANDS WERE FORMED BY BIG VULCANIC ERUPTIONS. OFTEN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE VULCANOS, CRATERS OF REMARKABLE SIZE AND DEPTH - GENERALLY WITH LAKES INSIDE - CAN BE FOUND.
PALACES, CHURCHES, AND FORTRESSES RECALL A TIME WHEN THE AÇORES WHERE A PORT FOR TREASURE SHIPS SAILING FROM THE AMERICAS TO THE WEST AND AFRICA AND THE ORIENT TO THE EAST.

F L O R E S

> IN COMPARISON WITH EUROPEAN ISLANDS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, FLORES’ IS MORE BEAUTIFUL, DRAMATIC AND DELIGHTFULLY ASTONISHING. UNDEVELOPED LAND, MUCH OF IT STILL WILD, “ENDEMIC FLORA” FROM MACARRONESIA WITH A WIDE RANGE OF FLOWERS AND COLOURS ADD UP TO A STUNNINGLY VISUAL LANDSCAPE.
ON THIS ISLAND, NATURAL BEAUTY, NATIVE PEOPLE (4000) AND THE OCEAN COME TOGETHERIN PERFECT BALANCE AND HARMONY.
KILOMETRES OF BLUE HYDRANGEAS OVER GREEN MEADOWS. THE LUSH VEGETATION CARRIES AWAY, SURROUNDS AND SEDUCES THE VISITOR, WHO CAN EXPERIENCE DEEP VULCANIC LAKES, RUSHING STREAMS, BREATHTAKING WATERFALLS THAT SPILL FROM THE ROCKY PRECIPICES TO THE OCEAN, AND ENORMOUS BASALTIC CLIFFS (ROCHA DOS BORDOES). THE VULCANIC COAST HAS LARGE BAYS, SERENE COVES AND IMPRESSIVE PROMONTORIES. SMALL OFF-COAST ROCK FORMATIONS PROVIDE A GREAT REFUGE FOR MIGRATORY AND LOCAL BIRDS DURING THEIR NESTING PERIOD. UNDERWATER CAVES AND NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS OFFER A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CHANCE TO DIVE IN A SEA FULL OF FISH AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER CRYSTAL-CLEAR SEA BEDS. THE POLYCHROMATIC LANDSCAPE RAVISHES THE MIND AND DELIVERS THE SOUL FROM THE DAILY STRESS OF 21ST CENTURY LIFE.
BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE BOTANIC, GEOLOGIC, HYDROLOGIC AND LANDSCAPE RICHNESS, FLORES HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED A “NATURAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE”.

>FLORES’ RURAL LIFE IS RICH IN ANCIENT TRADITIONS AND FOLKLORE. THE NATIVE DANCES AND POPULAR FEASTS HAVE THE RHYTHM OF SIMPLER TIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, “THE FEAST OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”, STILL RETAINS ITS MEDIEVAL FLAVOUR.
FLORES IS DIVIDED IN TWO “CONCELHOS” (COUNCILS): SANTA CRUZ AND LAJES. IN LAJES, ON FAJA GRANDE BAY, LIES THE VILLAGE WITH THE SAME NAME, WHICH ALONG WITH THE SMALL ISLAND OF MONCIQUE, IS THE MOST WESTERN EDGE OF EUROPE. FOLLOWING THE PATH TO THE OLD “VIGIA DA BALEIA”, A SMALL CONSTRUCTION FOR SIGHTING WHALES, THE VISITOR WILL FIND THE LOCAL RESTAURANT - “CASA DA VIGIA” – WHERE THE DINING IS SERENE IN A PERFECT ISLAND PARADISE.

Casa Da Vigia

Casa da vigia- is a typical restaurant of the region - faja grande- flores- açores

Located at the most Western edge of Europe, this Italian restaurant is situated in a pleasant environment.


Discover the taste of this island.
Natural cooking...from the land...from the sea...vegetarian food
Italian specialities
Home-made cakes and ice cream...
Biological products
Music


Cooking is a pleasure! We like to use natural grains, fresh vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil. Our cooking is in the best tradition of the mediterranean cuisines, yet also influenced by the finest culinary traditions of the world.
We have an organic vegetable garden, we use the many fresh produce of our island's sea and land. Only natural products are used in our cooking with particular attention for a healty diet.
'we are what we eat'


CASA DA VIGIA is for the sophisticated traveller: interesting books, clear maps, great music, and lovely conversation.

Casa da Vigia