Spend a long weekend (3 nights) as guests at Noceto Michelotti, a
premier producer of Barbera d'Asti in the Piemonte region of northern
Italy. Included is a case of superb Noceto Michelotti wine - taste it
at the party to know what a treat you are in for! Learn more about the estate here...
Win a trip to
the Azores!!
Just a 4-hour direct
flight from Boston to Sao Miguel, the largest of Azores' 9 islands, located 800 miles west of Portugal. Don't miss this amazing opportunity for
a fabulous vacation!
Unspoiled, historic, authentically European... lush and wild volcanic landscapes surround quaint small cities and tiny towns built around harbors and farms. The Azores are, without question, some of the most beautiful islands in the word, yet they remain a closely-guarded secret by tourists in the know. Although Azoreans speak Portuguese, travelers can always find someone who speaks English, and the friendly residents are always happy to help. (see the description of Sao Miguel below)
This offer
includes airfare and 6 nights for two at the Hotel Talisman in Ponta Delgada,
rated #1 of 27 hotels on Sao Miguel by TripAdvisor. Read the Reviews here!With thanks to SATA airlines & Jayme Simoes - Louis Karno & Co.
ABOUT the island of SAO MIGUEL
Sao Miguel is
considered the capital of the Azores and is the biggest, most diverse and most
populated island among the nine. It’s known for its volcano-created lakes, its
sulfur springs spa, its historic towns and its beaches and mountains.It’s also called the "Green Island"
because of its interior, where good soil makes for productive agriculture.
Sao Miguel was
first sighted in the mid-14th century by a Portuguese fleet, and settlement
began in 1444 with farmers from Southern Portugal and France. All the roads
leading around the island of Sao Miguel provide views the rolling hills, the
ocean and the occasional cattle wandering in the road.
On the eastern
side, the Ribeira Grande region is known for Lagoa do Fogo or "Lake of Fire," a
deep caldeira with a lake at the bottom. This area is also home to two tea
factories and a tea plantation—the only plantation that remains in Europe.
Visitors can walk the fields, tour the tea factories and then have a cup in a
stone-walled tea room at the Gorreanna tea estate. Nearby,
visitors can also check out the Mulher de Capote (Cloaked Woman) liquor factory
and sample liquors made from passion fruit, pineapple and other island fruits.
Don’t miss the blackberry flavor… and make sure you save room in your suitcase
for a few bottles! Further east
on São Miguel is the Furnas region, where geysers hiss from the ground, mineral
water pours from taps along the cobbled streets. Some 22 different flavors have
actually been identified in this locale! Furnas is also famous for its natural
spas, where travelers have flocked from all over the worldfor decades to soak away their cares.
The Terra Nostra Garden Hotel offers a fabulous outdoor-cooked lunch -- not in
an open fire, but in the steamed heat created by those former volcanoes in the
form of geysers. This meal -- called cozido -- includes meat or fish and
vegetables wrapped and buried underground to steam for several hours. The hotel
also has a naturally heated pool and a botanical garden. Running
through Furnas is a bridge with eight arches, one of São Miguel’s many
architectural wonders.
Villa Franco
do Campo, among the island’s fertile plains, was the first founded city
and the original capital. Weavers, potters, basket-makers and other artisans
sell their wares in marketplaces, and the harbor area offers restaurants and
pastries. Ponta Delgada
is the capital and largest city in São Miguel. The city offers plenty of places
to dine. Prices are reasonable and the meals tend to be large, with generous
portions of grass-fed beef and fresh ocean fish. Ponta Delgada
makes a fine base to explore the island, and the city is also easily seen on
foot. A tourist trolley called A Lagarta takes visitors to all the main sites.
The city’s numerous gardens burst with the diverse vegetation that blooms in
the Azores unique climate, making it a hot spot of interest for green thumbs. Its historic
sites, colorful chapels, shops, open-air markets and narrow streets make it a
favorite among visitors. West of Ponta Delgada is the Sete Cidades region,
where a short hike can lead to views of crater lakes and lush hillsides that
sweep down to the deep, blue-green waters. The
northeastern coast of Nordeste was, until recently, the most isolated section of
the island. The roads are mountainous with endless vistas of sea and cliffs,
making it a wonderful place to explore by bike. Near the
center of the island, Pico do Carvão has extended views of São Miguel and the
sea, while Lagoa do Fogo Park offers views of the island and the clear, green
lake at the center of the extinct crater.
Atlantic Symphony Orchestra · 408 Washington St., Weymouth, MA 02188 · 781-331-3600 · info@atlanticsymphony.org
