Real estate agent on Faial Island.
The island of the sea: Horta has been a port of call for Atlantic crossings for centuries, with a marina full of sailboats from around the world. And the island of Capelinhos, the volcano that erupted in 1957-58.
- ~67 sq mi one municipality, Horta, covers the whole island
- 3,422 ft Cabeço Gordo (1,043 m), the highest point, on the central caldera
- 1957-58 the Capelinhos eruption, about 13 months
- ~30 min by ferry from Horta to Madalena, on Pico
Horta and the sea
Horta, seat of the municipality that covers the whole island, grew around its harbor. In the marina, crews crossing the Atlantic paint murals on the quay walls, a tradition that made the place famous.
Capelinhos and the volcanic west
The eruption lasted about 13 months and enlarged the island by roughly 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²). Some 300 houses were destroyed, with no deaths.
Buying on Faial
Between the 1998 earthquake and the 1957-58 eruption, old construction sits alongside recent rebuilding. Magda assesses the structure, the roof, the damp and the licensing before the offer.
Good to know
The Blue Island
Writer Raul Brandão gave Faial the nickname in 1926, for the hydrangeas that bloom in summer.
Flemish settlers
In 1467, Josse van Huerter brought Flemish colonists. They settled in the Flamengos valley and then Porto Pim, where Horta would grow.
Painting the Horta quay
Crews paint the boat’s name and the date on the quay walls. Tradition says it brings luck for the next leg.
New land from the sea
Capelinhos added about 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of land. The lighthouse was the only building in the area to survive.
A link between continents
In 1919, the NC-4 flying boat, on the first transatlantic flight, landed in Horta Bay.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy a house on Faial?
Yes. Portugal generally does not restrict foreign buyers. You need a Portuguese tax number (NIF), and you should confirm the tax and legal details with a lawyer before signing. Magda Leal guides the process from the first contact to the deed.
How do I get to Faial?
Faial has an international airport at Horta, with flights within the Azores and to Lisbon. From the US, most people fly to Ponta Delgada or Lisbon and connect. Ferries to Pico take about half an hour.
What is the link between Capelinhos and the United States?
The eruption destroyed about 300 houses. In response, the US passed the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958, authorizing 1,500 visas. Many Azorean-American families trace their roots to it.
Is it worth getting an old Faial house assessed technically?
Yes. The region is seismically active, and Faial suffered an earthquake in 1998. Have the structure, roof, damp and licensing assessed, so you know the real condition of the house and what it costs to fix.
magda@magdaleal.pt · Keller Williams Portugal, AMI 7183