Tourism

Miradouro do Monte

Fábrica da Baleia

The Fábrica da Baleia do Boqueirão (Boqueirão Whaling Factory) is located at the northeastern tip of the town of Santa Cruz das Flores. The building’s placement was determined by its purpose, as a sperm whale processing point on the island, situated directly above the port of Boqueirão, at an altitude of about 27 meters. It is a building that stands out in the urban landscape due to its volume and the size of its chimney. It is part of a factory complex that includes the dismantling platform and the slipway, both located on the northern side of the building, consisting of four rectangular bodies, perpendicular to each other, and a cylindrical chimney, totaling an area of about 1850 m2. Built between 1941 and 1944 by the whaling company Reis & Flores, with Francisco Marcelino dos Reis and José Jacinto Mendonça Flores as majority partners, it operated until 1984. Purchased by the Municipal Council of Santa Cruz das Flores shortly after, it served the municipality until 1992 as a material warehouse, locksmith, mechanics, and painting workshop, with the exception of the east wing of the building. This wing, composed of two large rooms and the pump house, contiguous to these, was ceded by the Municipal Council to the Museum of Art and Popular Tradition of the island, for a later installation of the Sea Arts Section. In that year, recovery work on the machinery began, which would last about a year. Despite the first attempt at conservation for museological purposes, the factory remained abandoned for more than 10 years, having received in 1999 the classification of Property of Public Interest (Resolution nº67/99, of April 29). In 2006, a new project for the musealization of the Factory began, which includes the recovery of the machinery and the rehabilitation of the building, with a second floor being added to the west wing and a roof covering an adjacent area, which was originally open-air. The maintenance of the original roof, the masonry walls, and the original concrete structures, as well as the size of the machinery installed here, immediately transport the visitor’s imagination to the days of work in the factory and to the times when whaling was part of the island’s daily life. The inauguration of the museum took place in 2015, under the tutelage of the company Ilhas de Valor S.A, being since 2022 an annex of the Flores Museum. Here the visitor learns about the history of whaling on the island and the entire process of hunting and transforming the sperm whale.

Miradouro da Caveira

The Miradouro da Caveira is a viewpoint on Flores Island, in the Azores archipelago, whose name derives from an intriguing legend. According to the legend, a shipwrecked man named Demétrio, who lived on the island for several years, was a disbeliever and considered a heretic. After his death, a shining skull began to appear at the location of the current viewpoint. Local inhabitants believed this was Demétrio’s soul, unable to find peace due to his heretical views. To help his soul, they began to celebrate masses in his name until the apparition ceased. Thus, the viewpoint became known as "Miradouro da Caveira" (Skull Viewpoint).

Environmental Interpretation Center of Boqueirão

The Environmental Interpretation Center of Boqueirão was designed within the tanks where whale oil, melted at the Boqueirão Whaling Factory, used to be stored. It is a space dedicated to promoting knowledge about the island’s most environmentally significant locations, with a special focus on marine environments. Here, you can learn about resident and migratory birds, intertidal and water column organisms, cetaceans, and hydrothermal vents. It is a prime location for disseminating scientific knowledge, enriching the experience of those visiting the Natural Park. This Center was included in the Guide to Architecture – South and Islands of Portugal, published in 2011; and in the project "Iberian Architectural Heritage Exhibition – LaMIPA," within the scope of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2013 – Close, Closer. It has also been referenced and published on various specialized websites and magazines.

Miradouro da Costa Norte

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento

The Church of Nossa Senhora do Livramento, also known as the Church of the Blessed Souls of Caveira, combines tradition, religious identity, and genuine Azorean architecture. Its construction at the end of the 19th century, with the help of emigrants, marks a symbol of belonging and faith in the community. The patron saint’s festival is one of the most emotional moments in the local calendar.

Igreja de São Pedro

Miradouro da Fajã do Conde

An elevated area with a view of the east coast of the island. You can observe the Fajã do Conde area and also the parish of Caveira, known for its ZEC classification and Protected Area for Habitat or Species Management of Ponta da Caveira, designated as FLO06.

Miradouro do Monte das Cruzes

The Miradouro do Monte das Cruzes is a beautiful and peaceful place, surrounded by cow pastures, farms, and stunning views. You’ll have the Flores FLW airport, part of the city of Santa Cruz das Flores, as well as the undulating inland landscape in the palm of your hand. Then, in the distance, on the horizon, you can see the island of Corvo.