Maia

Welcome to Maia. On the North Coast of Sao Miguel Azores.

This pretty town on the North coast of the island was established in the
15th century. Fishing would have been a significant industry here for many years. You might be surprised that another key industry in the area is tea. Very close by is the Gorreanna tea plantation, one of two on the island and the only ones in Europe

Because there are much better known areas in Sao Miguel, not many tourists visit this little town. If you happen to be in the area and want to see nice views, relax on a little beach, or just get off the beaten path, this might be a good place to stop.

Of note, is a beautiful hike that ends in the area, it is callled Praia da Viola (PR27SMI). You can find information about it and other trails at www.trails-azores.com. Take note of the cautions listed when hiking in the Azores as conditions can change frequently

I was interested to find that there were signs in the park beside the church pictured below indicating a free WiFi connection is available. And across from the park, on the road behind the church, are well maintained public washrooms. This makes me wonder if more tourists visit than I think.

You might notice some wafts of smoke on some of the images of coast. On the day these pictures were taken, workers were cleaning up debris and burnings excess wood and brush.

You might notice that the sandy portion is fairly small here. But it is a beautiful spot.

FYI, Maia, is considered a part of the parish of Ribeira Grande

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And please read more about the island of Sao Miguel. It's probably the island that you will discover first.