Geologically is part of the volcanic complex of Capelo, consisting of about 20 cones of slag and its lava spills, over a volcano-tectonic alignment general direction WNW-ESE. The Capelinhos name was due to the existence of two islets called “Islanders Capelinhos” on the spot in front of the Lighthouse Capelinhos.

The volcano remained active for 13 months, between September 27, 1957 and October 24, 1958. The eruption of Capelinhos, have probably been an overlap of two distinct eruptions, one started the September 27, 1957, and Monday, 14 May 1958. From October 25, the volcano came into resting phase. The volcanological point of view, this volcano is considered an active volcano.

The Capelinhos volcano is recognized as a milestone in the world volcanology. “It was a submarine eruption properly observed, documented and studied, from the beginning to the end. He appeared in privileged terms, from an inhabited island, with road, lighthouse and private phones.”

As a result of the eruption, between the months of May to October 1958, the total area of the island (of 171.42 km²) increased by about 2.50 km² (to 173.02 km²). Currently, this area was reduced to about half (about 172.42 square kilometers) because of the very consolidated nature of the rocks and the erosive action of the waves. Climbing the volcano presents some risks and should therefore be carried out in the appropriate tracks and under the guidance of a certified guide. It should be noted that the vent volcano, situated in its North Cabeço, releases water vapor and toxic gases with temperatures of around 180-200 ° C.

Capelinhos underground museum - Interpretation Centre of the Volcano

Peter’s Scrimshaw Museum started in 1986 and is now a place that those who travel to Faial must visit. In the Azores, scrimshaw was not born on board, but on land through the hands of regional craftsmen. The best scrimshaw artists who worked on the islands are represented in the collections of the Museum.

More information: http://www.petercafesport.com/pcs/museu.php

Towns and Culture

- Horta – the island’s capital and a major sea ports of the Azores, and one of the most famous in the World Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, College Palace, Church of the Holy Savior, Jesuit College, Horta Museum, convent of San Francisco, Monte Carneiro, Fort Santa Cruz, Peter Café Sport, Scrimshaw Museum (works in bone and whale tooth);

- Feteira – the Feteira Coast, Church of the Espírito Santo(Holy Spirit Church).

- Varadouro – thermal baths, Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Dores, Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, natural pools.

- Flamengos – Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz, Botanical Garden.

Nature

- Caldeira, Boiler – almost in the center of the island lies the great central crater of the island, known as Caldera, with an approximately circular shape and about 2km in diameter and with a depth of around 400m. By making the route around the crater have to be taken care of fog that is sometimes sudden. The boiler is considered Natural Reserve;

- Cabeço Gordo – the highest point of the island with 1040m of altitude and from where we can see a stunning view over the surrounding area;

- Ponta dos Capelinhos – geologically is the latest part of the island, originated as a result of the eruptions of 1957-58, initially underwater, that then emerged and what is now the Capelinhos. Today contrasts the barren, black and silent zone Capelinhos with the excitement of the deep blue sea and the white foam that surrounds it. The whole history of this event, which has affected the archipelago, can be revisited today in the Museum Centre of Capelinhos (or simply Museum of Capelinhos) Capelo in the parish;

- Capelo Forest Park;

- Viewpoint Caldeira Road – near Flamengos with a good view over the valley of the Flamengos;

- Beaches Almoxarife and Porto Pim – sandy beaches and sea, usually quiet, the second in Horta;

- Bay of Ribeira das Cabras.

Erected on the escarpment of Monte da Guia, in a dominant position over the Bay of Horta was part of the defensive system of the island against pirates and privateers attacks, once common in this Atlantic region. It is currently inserted in the area of protected landscape of Monte da Guia.

The collection of the institution has several collections on the history of Faial. Among them are works from fig tree pith, artist Faial Euclides Silveira da Rosa, born on the island of Faial in 1907 and died in Brazil, São Paulo in 1979.1 as well as works of Portuguese painters António Dacosta, Sousa Vieira Pinto and Lusitano.

Repository of a wealth of symbolic value, the Horta Museum is made up of heterogeneous set of collections, to understand the chronological period from the sixteenth century to the present: ethnography, objects and devices connected to ancient crafts and traditional agricultural technologies, flax, wool and ceramic; technological objects related to the history of the Port of Horta, as with the submarine cable stations from the nineteenth century to the twentieth operated in this nerve center of the North Atlantic communications; religious art; fine arts; photographic documents; printed documents and manuscripts; natural history specimens.

The Museum Centre of Capelinhos reports the eruption of the Volcano of Capelinhos in 1957, with photographs of the phenomenon and slag from the eruption.

The photo is from 1900, but the American whaling ships already ran the seas since at least the XVIII sec. By passing the islands of the Azores and Cape Verde, often recruited men who were enjoying the adventure of opportunity, another life, to get to America. Some died at sea, a deserted before reaching the New World, the other Azorean whalers have become major, returned to their land, and realized that the islands were ships in the middle of the Atlantic high, and the canoes could be launched from land, was born by wheel the second half of the XIX sec whaling Açoreana.