Santa
Maria in a nutshell The
Island of Santa Maria belongs to the eastern group of the Azores islands. Situated
55 miles south of S. Miguel, it is the northernmost island of the archipelago.
It is 97.42 sq. metres in area, 18 kilometres long and 10 kilometres at its widest.
The climate is mild, with temperatures ranging from 12º in winter and 25º in summer.
Santa Maria was the first island of the archipelago where Portuguese navigators
set foot, sometime between 1427 and 1432. It was also the first to be colonised,
and its first inhabitants settled in the Praia dos Lobos, off the Ribeira do Capitão
in 1439. In 1901 the island received a regal
visit, namely King D. Carlos and Queen Dona Amélia. Still during the monarchy
the archipelago's first Republican Assembly was elected. In 1944 the American
forces built the airport of Santa Maria, which later opened to national and international
traffic. . Here
is the link to the Tourist Info on-line | 
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