Ponta Delgada, The Capital of Sao Miguel

I always enjoy visiting Ponta Delgada when I go to Sao Miguel as part of an Azores vacation. Walking along the streets and soaking up the history and culture can be a lot of fun. No matter what time of year I go, I spend a good amount of time in the city checking out the storefronts and enjoying the restaurants.

The Avenue, Waterfront and Marina

Walking along the avenue on the waterfront is an enjoyable experience at any time of year. There is always a lot of activity along the avenue. I enjoy the activity whether it is from the locals going about their day, a ship arriving in the marina (including the occasional cruise ship), and maybe an exhibition or concert at Portas do Mar.

Marina

The Marina is a focal point of the city and avenue.

The City Streets

Many of the streets are cobblestone and meticulously maintained. There is no shortage of shops and restaurants to visit all along the streets.

This picture was taken in December and there are Christmas decorations overhead

Cafes and Restaurants

There are many cafes, restaurants and bars to choose from. My favourite restaurant is called "Nacional" and is located close to the post office. And my favourite cafe is pictured next. There isn't a lot of indoor seating at this cafe, but there is a good seating area outside.

Churches

There are plenty of churches anywhere you go in the Azores, and Ponta Delgada has many of them. I put a couple of pictures here of two of the churches

I have not included pictures of the shopping centers in the city or of the storefronts along the streets. There are two shopping centers in the city. The largest is called Parque Atlantico and the other is Solmar Center. Solmar Center is on the avenue close to the marina and offers a free wi-fi spot.

For more pictures take a look at these Azores Photos of Ponta Delgada

And for more about the island, visit Sao Miguel Azores.

And finally, for more information about the Azores, visit the www.magical-azores-islands.com home page for links to information about all of the islands