Portugal Guides: Horta, Faial, Azores
Horta
Horta is the main town and capital of Faial in the Azores.
The town is blessed with numerous historic buildings and churches. Its natural harbour and marina mean it has become a center for international yachting. The port is an important stop on trans-Atlantic voyages.
History
The island of Faial was first settled during the Age of Discovery and Henry the Navigator by the Flemish noble Josse van Huerter.
The main settlement Horta is derived from Josse van Huerter's name. The name of the island as a whole, Faial, stems from the Faya trees (Myrica faya) growing there when the first settlers arrived.
Later immigrants came mostly from the Alentejo and Algarve regions in the south of Portugal as the Flemish influence gradually diminished.
The early economy was based on wheat and woad and later whaling became an important industry.
1893 saw the beginning of a new era of Trans-Atlantic communications. Horta become very important not only as a relay station but also as an interchange point for Trans-Atlantic messages sent by cable.
Among the different Cable Companies operating in Horta, one was the Western Union Telegraph Company. The cables that linked Horta to the main capitals of the world, required skilled personnel for their maintenance and operation as well as suitable technical facilities.
A series of buildings that came to change the town's appearance were therefore constructed on the street named after United States Consul General in the Azores, John Bass Dabney.
The 1957 eruption of the of Capelinhos volcano led to people leaving the island in numbers for a new life in the USA.
Attractions
Horta is located on the south coast of Faial. It is close to the airport in Castelo Branco and is the ferry port for boats to other islands in the Azores. It has a population of around 6,400 inhabitants out of a total population on Faial of 14,500 people.
Horta hosts the Regional Parliament (Parlamento Regional) of the Azores and has a number of historic buildings, churches, gardens and museums.
Two pretty gardens in Horta are the Florêncio Terra Garden and the Jardim da Praça da República.
The marina in Horta also attracts trans-Atlantic yachts and is a colorful and busy sight.
Museums
Museums in Horta include the Museu da Baleia (Whaling Museum) dedicated to the island's long history of whaling. The museum is in an old whaling facility in use from 1941 until 1975. The top floor exhibits the skeleton of a female sperm whale and the former machinery that "harvested" and "processed" the whales is largely intact.
The Casa Memória Manuel de Arriaga is a 19th century building and the former residence of the first president of the Portuguese republic whose ancestors originated in Faial. He became president in 1911 following the deposition of King Manuel II of Portugal.
The Scrimshaw Museum above the 100-year-old Peter's Café Sport in Horta exhibits examples of the art of scrimshaw - engraving on whales teeth and bones and the tusks of walruses. The art form began as a form of amusement on whaling ships in the late 18th century, probably in North American waters.
The Museu Regional da Horta (Museu da Horta) began in 1977 and is housed in the former Jesuit College (Igreja do Santíssimo Salvador, Convento dos Jesuítas) adjacent to the Town Hall. It has an eclectic display of old photographs, documents, religious art, agricultural crafts including linen and wool as well as ceramics. There are also exhibits on the island's pivotal role in the laying of submarine transatlantic telegraphic cables between Europe and America.
Churches
Like all of the islands in the Azores, Faial has a good number of churches distributed in the towns and villages of the island.
Churches in Horta include two churches named Capela de Nossa Senhora da Guia with one on the promontory south of the town with the fort of the same name. Other churches are the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição.
The fine façade of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo dates from the 17th century and was part of a former convent. After the dissolution of Portugal's monasteries in the 19th century the building fell into disrepair and was also further damaged in several earthquakes that have hit the island. It is now occupied by the Portuguese armed forces, though there are proposals to restore its structure and open the building to tourists.
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição dates back to the early settlement of the island. However, the building has been rebuilt several times over its history. It was sacked in 1597 during a raid by Sir Walter Raleigh under the command of the Earl of Essex. A new church built in the 18th century was in turn destroyed by an earthquake in 1926. The present Art Deco church is from the 1930s.
Forts
As with all the islands in the Azores archipelago, Faial suffered repeated attacks by pirates. In Faial's case mainly raids by the English and French. The Earl of Cumberland (George Clifford) sank the 2,000-ton Portuguese carrack Las Cinque Chagas in 1594 off the coast of the island. The wreck is believed to contain millions of dollars in treasure but has never been located.
As a result around 20 forts were constructed on the coast to offer protection. Most are now partially or totally in ruins.
Near the marina, the 16th century Forte de Santa Cruz da Horta, is one of the best preserved. Its grounds now house a pousada, the Pousada Forte da Horta and the tiny Chapel of Santo António.
Festivals
June sees the festival of São João with music from brass bands, folk dances, processions and other events in Horta.
The Nossa Senhora das Angústias Festival takes place on the sixth Sunday after Easter Sunday.
On 1 August is the Senhora da Guia Festival with a parade of boats carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary from Porto Pim to the port in Horta.
Faial Tourist Office
Horta: Posto de Turismo do Faial
Rua Vasco da Gama
9900-117 Horta
Tel: 292 292 237
Getting to + around Faial
Air
Horta Airport (HOR) has connecting flights to Porta Delgada Airport and Lisbon Airport.
Horta Airport connects with the other islands in the Azores with flights to Corvo, Flores, Ponta Delgada and Terceira operated by SATA Air Açores.
The airport is a good place to rent a car on the island.
Flights to Porta Delgada
There are direct flights to Porta Delgada from Lisbon and other European cities including London (Heathrow) with TAP.
Air Azores (part of the SATA Group) flies to many European cities including direct flights to London (Gatwick), Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid and many other destinations in Europe. These include Manchester in the UK via Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal.
There are also direct flights to Boston (about 5 hours flying time), Oakland and Providence, Rhode Island in the USA. In addition there are also flights to the Azores from Toronto in Canada.
All the islands of the Azores have air connections from Porta Delgada with SATA Air Azores.
Ferries
There are no ferries from continental Portugal to the Azores. You will have to fly. Ferries do connect the various groups of islands in the Azores, however.
Sailings are subject to the weather and the season, being less frequent in winter when the seas can be rough.
The boats are operated by Atlânticoline (atlanticoline.pt).
Car ferries between the eastern group of islands São Miguel and Santa Maria take 3 hours.
Ferries also connect the central group of islands: São Jorge, Graciosa, Pico, Terceira and Faial.
Faial (Horta) to São Jorge (Velas) takes 2 hours; Faial (Horta) to Pico (São Roque) takes 1 hour, 10 minutes; Faial (Horta) to Pico (Madalena) takes 30 minutes; Pico (Madalena) to São Jorge (Velas) takes 1 hour, 20 minutes; Pico (São Roque) to São Jorge (Velas) is 50 minutes.
The western group of islands Flores and Corvo are connected by a small passenger only ferry (40 minutes).
The ferry terminal on Terceira is in Horta.
*All journey times are dependent on sea conditions.
Bus travel in Portugal
Buses from Horta connect with other towns and villages on the island namely Castelo Branco, Capelo, Praia do Norte and Ribeira Funda running east and north around the coast from Horta. West and north from Horta buses connect to Pedro Miguel, Ribeirinha, Salão, Cedros and Ribeira Funda. Buses from Horta also run to and from Praia do Almoxarife. Another service runs Horta, Flamengos, Castelo Branco and back.
There are also buses from the airport to several places on Faial. Bus services on the island are operated by Farias (farias.pt).
Car Travel in Portugal
Car or taxi rental are good options for exploring the island. Indeed, car rental is really a must if you want to get the most out of your vacation on Faial and visit some of the more remote spots. If you hire a taxi agree a time and place with your driver to pick up you if you go walking or sightseeing.
Search and Book Car Rental in Faial
From the Airport
Horta Airport (HOR) is 9.5 km (5.9 miles) southwest of Horta. A few local buses connect to Horta and other settlements on the island. The airport was upgraded in 2021 with the development including a new three story terminal building.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Featured Hotel
Azoris Faial Garden - Resort Hotel, Faial - Rua Cônsul Dabney, 9900-856 Horta
Faial - Açores, Portugal.
Book this hotel
Horta has the largest concentration of hotels on Faial with both high-end luxury hotels along with more budget guesthouses. Some recommended places to choose from include the boutique Hotel do Canal a 4-star hotel close to the sea, and the Hotel São Francisco with continental breakfast and free WiFi.
Elsewhere on the island try the Residencias Varadouro in the village of Capelo on the west coast or the Pátio Lodge, accommodation with vegetarian food as an option in Cedros on the northern coast.
See a listing of available accommodation in Faial.
Book Hotel Accommodation in Horta, Faial & The Azores
Royal Garden Hotel Ponta Delgada
Hotels in Portugal - Booking.com
Hostels in Portugal - Booking.com
Eating
A Faial specialty is stewed octopus in wine which can also be found on the other islands of the Azores. For meat-eaters try the local sausages and boiled beef. Delicious local pastries include Fofas do Faial.
Ah! Boca Santa on Rua Serpa Pinto in Horta comes well recommended to sample the local cuisine as is Pasquinha in Salão on the east coast. Also try out the Restaurante A Árvore in Horta.
Drinking
The Azores produces its own good quality wine, from mostly American grape varieties. The best wines come from Graciosa, Pico and Biscoitos in the north of Terceira.
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Bars Cafes & Internet Cafes
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Faial has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and very mild, moist winters.
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