Horta on Foot

on foot

Horta has a great nautical tradition and centuries of history linked to navigation. Located in a sheltered bay with views across to the islands of Pico and São Jorge, life in the city revolves around its relationship with the sea, the harbour and its busy marina.

The best way to explore the streets of the city is on foot. Your guide will meet you at the port and accompany you on a walk to discover Horta’s places of interest. Your stroll will take you past the delightful gardens of the Praça da República, and the marketplace, popular with locals selling their homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Continuing to the city centre, you will visit the Horta Museum, where you can browse several collections that showcase Faial’s history, along with works of various Portuguese artists. Next, head to Peter Cafe Sport, a world-famous cafe amongst the yachting fraternity and a popular social hub for those who use Horta as a stopover whilst sailing across the Atlantic. Above the cafe is the Scrimshaw Museum which displays ivory (whale bones and teeth) carved by Azorean artists. These historic artifacts are a reminder of the history of whaling in the Azores, practiced until the islands joined the general whaling ban in 1984.

Following this, you will visit the 16th-century Forte de Santa Cruz which guards the marina and was built to protect Horta from pirate attacks. Pause at a local venue for a cup of tea or coffee along with a traditional Fofas do Faial, a traditional pastry commonly eaten on the island.

Before returning to the port, take a stroll through the marina to admire the hundreds of drawings by sailors that cover nearly every wall and surface – a colourful tradition that has become a symbol of the city.