Madalena: Pico’s Gateway Town and Its Watchful Islets
Anyone arriving in Pico by boat from Faial sees, long before spotting the mountain, two small islets guarding the harbour entrance. That’s Madalena: a town that introduces itself by sea first, and only afterward by everything else.
The island’s main sea gateway
Founded as a municipality on 8 March 1723, Madalena sits on Pico’s western tip, directly facing Faial island and the city of Horta, about 7.5 km away. This privileged geographic position turned Madalena into the main hub for maritime links between the two islands — a role it still holds today, with the modern João Quaresma ferry terminal.
Two islets that survived a submarine volcano
Facing the town rise the Deitado and Em Pé Islets, 52 and 59 metres tall respectively, heavily eroded remnants of an ancient submarine volcanic cone. The seabed between the islets is an old tuff-rock crater, and the sheltered area they create reaches 20 metres deep — an important habitat for nesting seabirds.
The island’s largest church
The Church of Santa Maria Madalena, founded in the 17th century and significantly renovated in the 19th, is the largest religious building on the entire island of Pico. Its spires, seen from the sea, are one of the first landmarks that identify the town to anyone arriving by boat.
From Island Cheese to UNESCO vineyards
The municipality’s economy has always relied on farming, livestock, and fishing, with small family businesses that still produce the traditional Pico Island Cheese today. Madalena is also the natural starting point for exploring the UNESCO-listed Vineyard Culture Landscape and the Wine Museum, housed in a former Carmelite convent.
Planning your visit
- What to see: the Church of Santa Maria Madalena, the seafront promenade overlooking the islets, and the ferry harbour.
- Festivities: 22 July, Feast of Santa Maria Madalena; second week of September, grape harvest festivities.
- Local crafts: crochet lace, straw hats, and sperm whale tooth carvings.
Best time to visit
July and September bring the main local festivities, including the harvest celebration.
Nearby highlights
Torres Cave and the Vineyard Culture Landscape are a short drive away.
After Madalena, head into the island’s interior to explore Torres Cave, or along the coast to see up close the vineyards that made this region a World Heritage Site.
Learn more about boat tours in the Azores.
Learn more about sea transport in the Azores.
