|
Lajes do Pico
Going south following the coastal road that runs all around the island, the next major point of interest is the town of Lajes, probably the synonym for the art of whale fishing of former times – replaced by today’s whale-watching – in the Azores. Everything in Lajes, which is the oldest and probably the most charming of Pico’s three municipalities, reminds of glorious whaling times, and it also boasts one of the most interesting museums of the archipelago – the Museu dos Baleeiros – where everything about the island’s whaling tradition is documented. Extending on a plane on sea level, the alleys and streets of the centre have been laid out in a way that – when they are flooded due to heavy sea storms, which is not unusual in winter – the water can flow back to the sea easily. Worthwhile mentioning is the Ermida de São Pedro, a small whitewashed chapel at the eastern exit of the town, which was the first worship place to be built on the island right after the settlement in 1460. There are also a couple of churches, but apart from being quite a nice little fishing town with a pleasant ambiance and its great attraction for people who are fascinated with whales, Lajes has not much more to offer.
|
|
You are here: 
