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The archipelago has a varied building heritage, as a result of the specific geographic and geological features of each island and of the kind of soil occupation and activity carried out by man over time. The built heritage, frequently decorated with a stonework of volcanic rocks (especially basalts and ignimbrites), includes old manor-houses, monasteries and churches and the building of several fortresses.
The Azores have two areas of cultural interest classified as UNESCO World Heritage.
- The first one is the Historical Centre of Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira island), due to its military architecture and for having constituted an obligatory harbor of call during the maritime discoveries, between the 15th and 19th Centuries.
- And the second one is the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, because of the transformation of its rocky, and apparently unproductive, landscape through viniculture, producing a wine of great quality.
In the archipelago there is a significant number of Philharmonic bands, Folklore groups, Theatre groups, Choirs and “Tunas” (popular or university music groups).
The archipelago has several museums and Regional Public Libraries in all islands:
- Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional de Ponta Delgada (São Miguel)
http://www.bparpd.azores.gov.pt/
- Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional de Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira)
http://www.bparah.azores.gov.pt/
- Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional de João Joséda Graça (Faial)
- Museu Carlos Machado (São Miguel)
http://museucarlosmachado.azores.gov.pt/
- Museu de Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira)
http://museu-angra.azores.gov.pt/
- Museu da Horta (Faial)
- Museu do Pico (Museu dos Baleeiros, Museu da Indústria Baleeira e Museu do Vinho)
- Museu Francisco de Lacerda (S. Jorge)
- Museu da Graciosa
- Museu de Santa Maria
- Museu das Flores
http://museus.azores.gov.pt/
Source: http://www.unesco.pt/pdfs/docs/patm_pt.doc, http://www.azores.gov.pt/Portal/pt/entidades/pgra-drcultura/,
http://pg.azores.gov.pt/drac/cca/pasa/sitios_arqueologicos/default.aspx, LIMA, E.A., J.C. NUNES, M.P. COSTA e A. PORTEIRO, 2009. O geoturismo como instrumento de valorização do “Geoparque Açores”. In: C.N. CARVALHO, J. RODRIGUES & A. JACINTO (Ed.) – Geoturismo e Desenvolvimento Local. Câmara Municipal de Idanha-a-Nova / Geoparque NaturTejo, Lda., p. 149-160. |
