Sete Cidades Essentials

Sete Cidades centers on a massive volcanic caldera containing the iconic twin lakes, Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul. This selection highlights the diverse perspectives of the crater, from the high northern rim at Miradouro da Cumeeira to the narrow ridge of Boca do Inferno. Within the crater, the village of Sete Cidades features the neo-Gothic Igreja de São Nicolau, while the ruins of the 1980s Monte Palace hotel provide a brutalist contrast to the natural landscape. The area is defined by its volcanic geology, including the smaller, deep-green Lagoa de Santiago.

Miradouro Vista do Rei - Lagoa das Sete Cidades

Scenic viewpoint overlooking volcanic crater lakes with panoramic views of twin lakes known as the Green and Blue Lakes of Sete Cidades.

Boca do Inferno Viewpoint

High-altitude viewpoint accessible via a forest path, offering views of Lagoa de Santiago, Lagoa Rasa, and the twin lakes from a narrow ridge.

Sete Cidades

Small parish located on the floor of the volcanic caldera, characterized by traditional Azorean architecture and its proximity to the shores of the twin lakes.

Miradouro da Lagoa de Santiago

Overlooks a deep, emerald-green crater lake situated at a lower elevation than the main caldera rim, surrounded by steep, densely forested walls.

Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras

Roadside viewpoint providing a perspective of the northern shore of Lagoa Azul and the village of Sete Cidades from the crater's inner slope.

Igreja de São Nicolau

19th-century neo-Gothic church located at the end of a long avenue of cryptomeria trees in the center of the village.

Hotel Monte Palace (ruin)

Concrete remains of a five-star hotel that operated for only one year after opening in 1989. The abandoned structure stands adjacent to the Vista do Rei viewpoint.

Miraduro da Cumeeira

Viewpoint located on the northern rim of the caldera, offering a panoramic perspective of the entire volcanic complex and the village below.