Horta

Horta sits in a sheltered bay on Faial Island in the Azores, and the marina is what most people remember. Its walls are covered with thousands of paintings left by sailors crossing the Atlantic, a tradition that's been running for decades. Pico Island rises sharply across the channel, adding a dramatic backdrop to the harbour. The waterfront has a few good bars and cafés where Atlantic sailors mix with local fishermen. The Capelinhos volcano on the western end of the island erupted in 1957 and added new land to Faial. The interpretation centre there is built into the ash fields and tells the story well. Caldeira, the island's central crater, has a walking trail around the rim with views down into the green interior. The town itself is small enough to cover on foot, with cobbled streets, pastel houses, and a mix of Flemish and Azorean architecture from the island's settlement history.