Attraction Guide: Caldeiras das Furnas, Furnas, Portugal

Caldeiras das Furnas Guide

Volcanic Flavors: Cooking with the Earth in Furnas Guide

Caldeiras das Furnas, located in the Furnas Valley on São Miguel Island in the Azores, Portugal, is a truly unique and captivating destination. This volcanic landscape is characterized by bubbling hot springs, steaming fumaroles, and the distinct aroma of sulfur. It's a place where the earth's raw power is on full display, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the island's volcanic origins. The Furnas Valley is a volcanic crater, formed thousands of years ago. The volcanic activity has shaped the landscape and created the unique geothermal features that define the area. The hot springs and fumaroles are a result of underground magma heating the groundwater, which then rises to the surface. This geothermal activity has also influenced the local culinary traditions, most notably the "cozido das Furnas." The main attraction at Caldeiras das Furnas is the opportunity to witness the preparation of "cozido das Furnas," a traditional Azorean stew cooked underground using the geothermal heat. Large pots filled with meat, vegetables, and sausages are buried in the hot earth in the morning and slowly cooked for several hours. Visitors can watch the pots being unearthed in the afternoon and then enjoy the delicious, earthy-flavored stew at a local restaurant. Beyond the cozido, explore the surrounding botanical gardens, relax in the thermal waters of the Terra Nostra Park, or simply marvel at the otherworldly landscape.