Santa Maria Travel Guide, Portugal

Santa Maria is a city in an island situated in the southeast part of the Azores. The city is considered to be the southernmost island of the Azores Islands. Santa Maria was the first island to be discovered in the Archipelago of Azores. According to geologists, the city is believed to be the oldest island in the region. It was Christopher Columbus, who attended this city on his visit from the Americas and dedicated it to the Holy Spirit.

Location

The island city is nearly 17 km in length and 9.5 km in width. Pico Alto is the highest mountain nearly 587 m high and an ideal viewpoint area in the city. It attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Climate

Santa Maria is loved by tourists because it is the warmest of all the islands of Azores. The warm climate makes the city most suitable for all those, who love to be on the beaches since Santa Maria has some of the best beaches in the whole world. Although some days of the year are foggy, that does not have an impact on the tourism industry.

People

The small city of Santa Maria has a small population of 6,000 inhabitants among which nearly 2,800 people live in the region of Vila do Porto alone. Circumstances have changed the lifestyle of the people after the Second World War when the Allies got the authorization for building two new airport bases. These airports are the largest income providers for the people of the city as it employs around 500 people, who have settled around the region.

Transportation

Santa Maria is an ideal place for tourist and island lovers, as this city is well connected with the rest of the world. The city has a very big airport situated on the outskirts of Santa Maria and it was used as an air force base for the American Army in World War 2. Currently, the airport is used as a commercial airport and there are many international airlines carriers, which provide regular flights to Santa Maria. People loving white beaches should visit this island and they can do so by flying on a small SATA plane. Apart from this, the city of Santa Maria also has a ferry connection, which has encouraged more tourists in recent times.

Come to this traveler’s paradise and do not let your feet rest a minute! You might miss the excitement that the city has to offer.