The island of São Miguel is the biggest and most populated island in the Azorean Archipelago. Situated in the Eastern Group, with around 759.41km2 of surface, and 65km of length and with 14km of width it was formed at around 4 million years ago. The highest points of the island we must highlight Pico da Vara (1103m) situated in the civil parish of Nordeste, Vista do Rei (850m) in Ponta Delgada and Pico da Barrosa (940m) at the mountain range of Àgua de Pau, located at the center of the island.
Discovered in the year of 1427, it was first populated in 1439 by the infant D.Henrique through a official charter, he authorized the instalment of settlers coming, mainly, from Estremadura, Alto Alentejo, Algarve and Madeira. Some foreigners also settled themselves, like French and some other cultural minorities.
At that time the island was already known as the green island, due to the quantity and variety of the vegetation and it's geographic position. With very fertile soil, a quick economic development took place.
The first settlement took place in Povoação and the first capital of the island was Vila Franca do Campo due to it's central position but in 1522 there was an earthquake at this location which destroyed greatly allowing the development of Ponta Delgada promoting it to be the new capital of the island, in 1546.
In the eighteenth century a lot of buildings, including manors and churches were built, showing a lot of elaborated stonework, delicate tiles and rich carvings which can be admired until current day. This architectonic expansion is justified by the gains attained with the orange production for exportation, whose principal market was the United Kingdom. Later, on the nineteenth century, new cultures were introduzed like tea, pineapple and tobacco. On the twentieth century the development of the industry, the fishing and the benefits coming from agricultural products helped increase the economy until current days.
On a administrative level the political center is located on the island with the Government Headquarters, being the later divided through 6 civil parishes: Lagoa, Nordeste, Ponta Delgada, Povoação, Ribeira Grande and Vila Franca.
The climate is oceanic temperate, with the average temperature being 16C in the spring time, 21C in the summer, 18C in the autumn and 14C during winter. The rain is distributed throughout the year being more abundant in the cold season. The sky is normally covered with cloudiness.
Born from volcanoes, the island regularly suffers sismic activity and presents a mountainous surface mainly in it's interior. The whole island is wrapped in a mistic blue and green where you can give special attention to the blue and green lagoons of Sete Cidades, the Vila Franca do Campo islet, the Caldeira Velha where you can enjoy calm and warm water, the Furnas Valley, unique thanks to it's boilers. Ferraria, with it's thermal water, the various riversides and waterfalls which run throughout the year. Furthermore, the island also offers beautiful beaches of dark basalt contrasting with the blue of the sea.