Pico island is the second largest island in the Archipelago of the Azores, it is situated west of mainland Portugal, here, you can find the highest point in the Portuguese territory the mountain of Pico with 2351 meters of altitude. The island has an area 447 km2, 42 km in length and 15.2 km of maximum width.
There are only 20,000 people, making this island unique in it's habitat, namely with it's caves, lagoons, sea ports and natural swimming pools. The climb to the top of the mountain is the largest of all attractions. On top you can see the islands of São Jorge, Graciosa, Terceira, Flores and Corvo.

It's discovery is not known, however, it's populating began around 1460 with Portuguese coming from the norther region of the Portuguese Mainland.

The first village on the island was Lajes, followed by the village of São Roque, in 1542. It's means of substenence was based on the cultivation of wheat, and pastel - a dye plant exported to Flanders and the cultivation of vineyards.

from early on the island of Pico affirmed itself as an important site for commerce derived by it's port which makes a connection with Faial island and where external commerce took place. As well as a producer of wine, seen as a site of residence of propriators of large vineyards in the region, it also produced wine.

It's lands were farmed and exploited and where there was rocky terrain and woodland, can now be found, due to the hard work of it's inhabitants, orchards and vineyards, where verdelho wine of Pico comes from that for more than 200 years, acheived international fame, being appreciated in many countries like the case of England, America and Russia.

In the mid-18th Century, the island of Pico is attacked and it's vineyards are destroyed. The recuperation is slow and was made from the base of new breeds of vines.

No less important we have the presence of American whalers in Azorean waters in the end of the XVIII century, where it was introduced a new sector of activity on the island, and even today can be remembered at the Whaling Museum.

Pico is today, a must-see island for all that enjoy nature.

Festivities
The festivals of São Roque do Pico take place in the last week of the month of June with musical concerts, cultural activities, exhibitions, etc., that attract to this island thousands of Portuguese immigrants and outsiders from the remaining islands.

The Whalers Festivals, take place in Lajes do Pico, in the last week of August, in honor of Our Lady of Lurdes. Also during this week, there are concerts, regatas with whaling boats, exhibitions and other cultural activities.
It is also in Lajes that take place, since 1998, the Bi-Annual Study of Whales in the Azores, where national and foreign specialists associated with whale watching get together.
On June 22nd, the village of Madalena have their festivals in honor of it's patron saint with great festivities. Here concerts, and other cultural and sport activities take place, which make up the program for the festivities for the village of Madalena.

In the second week of September, the Vineyard Festivals take place, with many activities, with main emphasis on the "Verdelho Route" regata.

On the island of Pico there are excellent folclore groups and singers of local popular music. The Chamarrita, the Caracol, Larun-tam-tun, etc. are dances that in the old times were performed during the festivals.
Equally excellent, the artwork of the island of Pico is internationally recognized. The whaling permitted an unique enrichment of the local artwork. Works in whale's bone and whale's teeth, as well as other themes, namely replicas of whaling boats, are an artistic expression of elevated quality. Pico posesses reknown artists.

Cuisine
Equally rich in it's cuisine, the island of Pico holds a vast group of unique dishes and flavors. Fresh fish, good pork and beef and good seafood, are prime materials used to cook the famous fish stews, linguiça(a traditional Portuguese sausage) and torresmos com inhames(ribs baked normally in white wine and served with boiled terra root), molha de carne(meat stew) and polvo guisado(stewed octopus) among others.
The cheese of Pico is equally a product recognized internationally, and served as an appitizer or dessert, accompanied by bread or bolo de milho caseiro(a traditional corn bread baked in a tradional wood stove), makes it a delecacy for all that pass through here.
In terms of desserts there is also arroz doce(sweet rice), massa sovada(sweet bread) and bolo véspera.

The wines of Pico, classified VLQPRD, are aperetifs of high quality, the table wines, whites, reds, and the regional "vinho de cheiro", a wine made from an american red wine grape, angelica and the aguardentes of Pico, can be found in any restaurant or supermarket on the island as well as outside of them, The Cooperative Winecellar(Adega Cooperativa) produces "VLQPRD".

Things to See
Pico: with 2351 meters of altitude, is the highest elevation in the Azores and Mainland Portugal. A real challenge for those who love adventure. From atop the mountain you can see the remaining islands of the central island group of the Azores, however it is advisable to bring a guide and inform yourself in the proper areas, of the risks originating from a climb of this altitude.

Cachorro Arch: Rock formation, where it's configuration makes you remember the muzzle of a dog. It is also in this zone that an electrical power plant was built, that works with the resulting energy from the force of the tides, that in this area is elevated.

Whaling Museum: Important sites of preservation of tradtion and culture of these people, situated in Lajes do Pico. It is here that important works in whales bone and whale tooth are reunited, as well as apparel utilized in whaling. Such is the case of the first motorized boat that was used in this activitiy.

Cooperative Winecellar(Adega Cooperativa): Area where it is produced the famous verdelho wine very apreciated by it's inhabitants. Those who pass through, receive with no charge a taste of the "Lajido" liquor marked VLQPRD(offcial Portuguese certification meaning Quality Liquor Wine Produced in a Denominated Region). It is the referencial point of the Municipality... and certainly an area that should be included in any excursion.

Touristic Guide
Pico, the mountain island, covered with sheets of many shades of green that cover the valleys and hills, that only leaves open it's mountain, the highest point of the Azores and Mainland Portugal.
Spread along the coast, aligned between the fresh green vegetation and vineyards, the people of Pico have a character very apropriate of them. Marked by the houses built with blocks of black lava.

Visiting Pico is like penetrating a small world built during centuries by whalers, farmers, and fishermen, with existing sceneries and tight-knit villages enframed over the ocean.

Lajes, São Roque, Madalena are three scular villages where time has left testimonies of art and history. Up until the end of the XIX century, the American whalers came to Pico to hunt right whales. Afterwards was the whaling from small canoes pulled by ores.
Today Pico recovers, in a peacful fashion, the whaling tradition, in two museums that give recognition to it's history and show the delicate art of parts made by sailors with the teeth and bones of right whales.

Pico is a paradise for all that like nature, of travelling through the marvellous coast and appreciating the green plateau with small lagoons, wineyards, fields of lava and with the enthusiastic experience of mountain climbing to the volcanic cone.