From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

São Miguel (Portuguese for Saint Michael) may refer to:

In Portugal

Azores

• São Miguel Island, an island in the eastern part of the Azores, also known as the Green Island
• São Miguel (Vila Franca do Campo), a parish in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo
• São Miguel Arcanjo, Azores, a parish in the central part of the Azores

Mainland

• São Miguel (Lisbon), a parish in the municipality of Lisbon
• São Miguel (Penela), a parish in the municipality of Penela
• An alternative name for Vilar de Perdizes in the municipality of Montalegre

Related

• São Miguel do Mato (Arouca), a parish in the municipality of Arouca
• São Miguel do Mato (Vouzela), a parish in the municipality of Vouzela
• São Miguel do Rio Torto, a parish in the municipality of Abrantes
• Sobral de São Miguel, a parish in the municipality of Covilhã

In Brazil

• São Miguel, Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte

Related

• Barra de São Miguel, Alagoas
• Barra de São Miguel, Paraíba
• São Miguel do Aleixo, Sergipe
• São Miguel do Anta, Minas Gerais
• São Miguel do Araguaia, Goiás
• São Miguel Arcanjo, Brazil, São Paulo
• São Miguel da Baixa Grande, Piauí
• São Miguel da Boa Vista, Santa Catarina
• São Miguel dos Campos, Alagoas
• São Miguel do Fidalgo, Piauí
• São Miguel do Guamá, Pará
• São Miguel do Guaporé, Rondônia
• São Miguel do Iguaçu, Paraná
• São Miguel das Matas, Bahia
• São Miguel dos Milagres, Alagoas
• São Miguel das Missões, a Jesuit Mission in southern Brazil
• São Miguel das Missões (city), Rio Grande do Sul
• São Miguel do Oeste, Santa Catarina
• São Miguel do Passa Quatro, Goiás
• São Miguel de Taipu, Paraíba
• São Miguel do Tapuio, Piauí
• São Miguel do Tocantins, Tocantins
• São Miguel de Touros, Rio Grande do Norte

In Cape Verde

• São Miguel, Cape Verde

Other

• The carrack Berrio, part of Vasco da Gama's ships

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From Wikitravel

São Miguel is the largest island of the Azores,an autonomous region in Portugal.

• Ponta Delgada (pop. 46,000). This is the capital and location of the main airport (João Paulo II), as well as the main economic center of the island. The historic center and most tourist attractions are located along the Avenida Infante D. Henrique which extends from the fort of São Brás in the southwest of the city to Clube Naval and the southeast Marina, and includes Campo de San Fransisco, the Matriz, the "Portas da Cidade" (the City Gates) and the new "Portas do Mar" development.

• Ribeira Grande (pop. 30,000). The second largest city on São Miguel is the gateway to the north and 20 minutes away from Ponta Delgada. It is known for its beautiful historic center and the northern beaches known for windsurfing, as well as being one of better access points to Lagoa do Fogo crater lake.

The landscape of eastern São Miguel

São Miguel doesn't have a lot of "beaches"; much of the shore is rough cliffs. Around the eastern edge, it is especially steep. As an Atlantic island, São Miguel can have heavy weather.

São Miguel has a moderate coastal climate, with fog, rain and not very hot summer temperatures. It is very humid and green.

Get in

The island of São Miguel is accessible by air through João Paulo II (Nordela) International Airport (PDL/LPPD), which handles domestic/regional traffic to the island, as well as international flights from Europe and North America. SATA International and TAP Air Portugal are the primary Portuguese air carriers serving the island, although several European and North American carriers provide charter services to the island.

Get around

Renting a car at the airport is one of the best ways to explore and get around the island. Sao Miguel is small enough to drive around in a day, and there is much to see that is only accessed by car.

You can also travel between the larger towns by bus.

The Sete Cidades twin lakes, one azure and one gray.

São Miguel has several calderas, and hot springs can be found scattered over the island; mostly in the middle highlands.

In the west there is a caldera and volcano crater that is almost filled by the beautiful Sete Cidades twin seas and the town of Sete Cidades. Steep mountain walls surrounds the lakes, one is azure blue, the other is greyish, and this is explained in a local myth.

Do

There are some marked hiking trails on the island, for example in and around the Sete Cidades caldera. These are usually one-day trails that any beginner hiker can enjoy. Organised whale- and dolphin-watching from small boats operating out of Ponta Delgada is increasingly popular with tourists.

Stay safe

There is very little crime on the island. Most crimes are drug related and are generally localized in Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande. Crimes against tourists are very rare.

Get out

The other Azores islands can be accessed by boat or plane from São Miguel.