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Ribeira Grande is located on the north coast of the beautiful Island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago. The town was a village until June 1981, when it was upgraded to city status and became the seat of a municipality with 14 parishes.
This lovely region boasts various enchanting sites with natural and architectural heritage that capture the hearts of visitors.
In the central part of the city, you will find several important historic buildings with their Gothic/Manueline heritage, two beautiful churches, and various residential buildings that house shops on their ground floors.
This region also features palatial and stately homes, reflecting the economic power of this territory. A fine example of such a house is the current Casa da Cultura, located in the Solar de São Vicente.
Fotografia de Nuno Vieira
This is the flattest municipality on the entire island and home to the volcanic massif of Serra de Água de Pau. Its highest point is Pico da Barrosa at 947 meters above sea level.
The settlement of the town began in the late 15th century, based on the stream that gives it its name, featuring a beautiful waterfall. With very fertile lands and charming natural beauty, it became the most important economic center in the north of São Miguel Island in the 20th century.
Fotografia de Maria Freitas
Little remains of the original settlement, as Ribeira Grande has been ravaged by various disasters. However, the urban center continues to charm with its typical houses and churches from previous centuries.
From Ponta Delgada, it is only 15 kilometers to Ribeira Grande and its eight-arch bridge. See below the places to visit in Ribeira Grande:
Santa Luzia Viewpoint, Palheiro
(C) ribeiragrande.pt
The Santa Luzia Viewpoint is situated above the sea and offers a unique and charming view of the city, Monte Verde beach, and the north coast, as well as the volcanic massif of Serra Devassa. From this location, you can hear the sounds of the cagarros, the most abundant seabird in the entire archipelago, and there are several spots to relax, picnic areas, and a playground for children.
Ribeira Grande Swimming Pools
Image captured by drone, watch the full video here.
The Ribeira Grande Swimming Pools, or Municipal Pools of Poças, are a complex annexed to the beach with a large saltwater pool, a jumping tank, and a freshwater pool for children. Additionally, the complex has two supporting bars and the largest sunbathing area in the Azores. Other services include changing rooms, rental of umbrellas and loungers, an elevator for disabled access, a medical office, restrooms, and freshwater showers.
Tobacco Museum
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(C) ribeiragrande.pt
The Tobacco Museum of Maia was one of the oldest tobacco factories on São Miguel Island. It closed its doors in 1988 and reopened as a museum in an attempt to preserve the culture of tobacco. During the visit, you can see the weighing, pressing, and drying areas of tobacco and the area where the processing machines are located.
See also: Listing of Museums in the Azores
Açorean Emigration Museum
(C) ribeiragrande.pt
The Açorean Emigration Museum was inaugurated in 2005 and is located in the former fish market of Ribeira Grande. Its archives contain a vast collection of local ethnography, including photographs, documents, clothing, and memories of those who left the Azores in search of better conditions and quality of life.
Additionally, there is an online database where you can consult records and requests from emigrants from the 19th century.
Municipal Museum of Ribeira Grande
The Municipal Museum of Ribeira Grande is housed in the 18th-century Solar de São Vicente Ferrer. Here, visitors can understand the life and dreams of the people of the Azores and the emigrants. Each space is dedicated to a different aspect of Açorean culture, from carpentry pieces to tinware, looms, a moving nativity scene, archaeology, and ceramics.
The space also includes a library, a newspaper library, an image library, an oral history archive, and an archaeological archive.
Eight Arches Bridge
Fotografia de Helena Botelho
The Eight Arches Bridge is located in the Matriz parish, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, and is one of the most visionary works in the Azores in the 19th century. It appears on the municipal coat of arms and, along with the City Hall building, is one of the city’s “ex libris.”
It was constructed between 1883 and 1893 based on a design by military engineer António Augusto de Sousa e Silva. From its very narrow sidewalk, visitors enjoy views of the sea and the historic center of Ribeira Grande.
Contemporary Art Center – O ARQUIPÉLAGO
(C) José Campos
The Arquipélago is a cultural landmark of São Miguel Island. In addition to the architectural beauty of its buildings, it features a shop and bookstore, workshops, an exhibition center, a documentation center, and an audiovisual production center.
