Famous for the two adjoining lakes of different colors, this is a beautiful town, surrounded by some of the most spectacular viewpoints on São Miguel island.
Highlights in Sete Cidades:
The top attraction of the city are the lagoons, one blue, the other green, seen locally or from the various viewpoints (if the weather permits but advisable to try, since the beauty of the different colors is better seen from distance), with emphasis on the so-called Vista de Rei. There, a ruin of a projected and never concluded hotel dominates the place and invites to think how and why it failed. In the city, is also nice the church of São Nicolau.
Visiting Sete Cidades
The uncertain Azorean climate betrayed our hope of seeing the lakes of Sete Cidades from the various viewpoints. Even the city, under an intense fog and drizzle, left us, in winter, but also in summer, an idea of sadness and coldness, which is certainly not real. One day the sun will help us!
Lagoon
The top of 7 Cidades, the Lagoon, is formed by two interconnected lakes: Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lake). The two lakes have distinct colors, with Lagoa Azul displaying a vibrant blue hue and Lagoa Verde showcasing a greenish tint. The contrasting colors create a stunning visual spectacle, making it a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts.
Sightseeing points
The best way to appreciate the lagoon is to go up to one (or several) of the viewpoints that surround it.
Vista do Rei (King’s Viewpoint) is the most famous of them, offering a stunning panoramic view of the two lagoons, Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lagoon). From here, you can see the contrasting colors of the lakes and the picturesque landscape. It’s a great spot for taking photos and appreciating the grandeur of the area.
In alternative, you may also have great views from the “Miradouro da Boca do Inferno” or the “Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras”.
Monte Palace
The most ambitious hotel project in the Azores led to the construction, at the end of the 1980s, of two luxury hotels – the Monte Palace, next to the Vista de Rei viewpoint, and another in Água de Alto (where I spent 5 nights).
Monte Palace only lasted 16 months, and closed permanently in 1990. Since then, the impressive facilities have not stopped deteriorating, with a strong help from tourists, indifferent to the prohibition (and risks) of entering.
It seems that there are Chinese plans for reconstruction, hindered by Covid.
Village
Sete Cidades is a small village, very traditional, which can still be seen in the construction, which tourism has driven towards development.
Ale above all for the surrounding landscape, whose beauty goes far beyond the lagoon.
Church
The church of São Nicolau was built by a private individual in the 19th century, in a Neo-Gothic style, in a relatively isolated area.
To facilitate access, a promenade was added, which today functions as the most beautiful element of the complex.
Light in Sete Cidades – a bright sun in the 5th attempt
If you want to easily publish your own experiences, after registering you may use the form below. It will be added after revision. You may use text, photos till 20Mb or video. For a more complex publication click here.
Publishing form
Your trip will be perfect with the help of our partners
For a great experience:
For your safety:
For your comfort:
For cheap flights:
For packages in Europe:
For local displacements:
