Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Island, Portugal

Santa Maria Island is the southernmost and easternmost island of the Archipelago of the Azores. Up until the end of the XV Century Santa Maria registered a large development, which produced the first "vila" in the Azores in the town of Porto, since then it has been called Vila do Porto. The largest festival in Santa Maria, with traditional and religious characteristics, take place at Vila do Porto on August 15th in honor of it's patron saint, Our Lady of Assention. Cut by bays, Sanat Maria has the most beautiful beaches in the Azores, with white and crystaline sands where it's waves challenge surfers, windsurf, sailing, diving, sport fishing at high sea... alas, innumerous activities for the true appreciators of sporting vacations.