In Ribeira Grande, religious art, Franciscan heritage, theatrical history and volcanic landscapes offer different ways to explore. When choosing accommodation, you can focus on culture and history, or on time by the sea and on a hiking trail.

Discover Art and History

Casa do Arcano presents the life and work of Madre Margarida Isabel do Apocalipse. One striking feature is the Arcano Místico: a wooden and glass cabinet with three levels depicting 92 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Around 3,900 hand-modelled miniature figures fill this world of images. The combination of three levels, numerous scenes and carefully modelled figures makes the object interesting both as a whole and in its details.

Another cultural highlight is the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is part of the former Franciscan monastery of Ribeira Grande, founded in the 17th century. The Museu Vivo do Franciscanismo opened in the church in 2013. The Procissão dos Terceiros is also still held in Ribeira Grande, adding a living tradition to the story of its Franciscan heritage.

The Ribeiragrandense Theatre offers a different perspective. Ezequiel Moreira da Silva and Rego Lima designed the building in an eclectic style; it opened in 1933. It was used as both a theatre and a cinema. Its architecture and former uses therefore offer two different ways to explore the cultural life of the town.

Two museums are also housed in former buildings: the Azorean Emigration Museum is located in Ribeira Grande’s former fish market. Its extensive collection on local ethnography was donated by João Bosco Mota Amaral. The Ribeira Grande Municipal Museum is housed in the former São Vicente Manor House. When choosing cultural stops, you can therefore distinguish between a collection’s subject matter and the history of a building.

Opening Hours and Planning Your Visit

Arquipélago – Centro de Artes Contemporâneas is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00; last admission to the exhibitions is at 17:30. Check the centre’s schedule before your visit and take the last admission time into account when planning.

Volcanic Landscapes and Coast

Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande is a fumarole field associated with the volcanic activity of the Fogo volcanic complex. It is also part of the PRC28SMI hiking trail. This location therefore combines a geological point of interest with a hiking route.

Praia do Monte Verde, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, is used for swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing. During the bathing season, from June to September, the beach has two facilities with toilets, changing rooms and showers. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing these seasonal facilities from activities for which no year-round schedule is specified: the facilities are available during the bathing season, while Praia do Monte Verde is used for various water sports.

Ribeira Grande offers everything from museums, architecture and religious tradition to volcanic landscapes and water sports. For a cultural stay, historic buildings and collections are the main themes; if you want to spend time outdoors, you can choose between Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and activities at Praia do Monte Verde.

Discover more destinations: S. Vicente Ferreira, Capelas, Sao Roque, Remédios, Nordeste, Água De Pau, Rabo De Peixe, Algarvia

For the overall travel guide: S.Miguel.