The Sete Cidades valley, an emblematic place in the Azores
The Sete Cidades valley, an emblematic place in the Azores, was chosen in 2010 as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
Lagoa das Sete Cidades is located in the northwest part of the island of São Miguel, Azores. Located 25 KM from the city of Ponta Delgada, this giant crater of a long-extinct volcano is home to the Verde and Azul lagoons, which make up Lagoa das Sete Cidades. The set of volcanic origin is highly relevant in ecological, geological and landscape terms, also including the Empadadas, Rasa, Canário and Santiago lagoons. Altogether, they store more than half of all lake water in the archipelago.
The peaceful shores of the Blue Lagoon invite you to restful walks and picnics in an unforgettable setting framed by steep slopes covered with trees and flowers. Legend attributes the different coloration of the waters of Lagoa das Sete Cidades to the tears shed by a princess with blue eyes and a shepherd with green eyes, whose love was forbidden.
The lagoons and the parish were classified as a Protected Landscape under the Natura 2000 Network.
