Leisure

Spending the day in Ribeirão a Ilha is a true incursion into the customs and lifestyle of the Azoreans of past centuries. The parish offers public benches to sit and relax in front of the sea and the main leisure activity during the day is strolling through the historic buildings and getting to know the local culture. As soon as you arrive, you can see the defining traits of this culture still preserved in an original and intense way. Note how the houses, for the most part, have walls and windows of different colors. The curtains also attract attention, almost all made of lace. In addition, it is common to see women leaning out of the window, enjoying the movement outside, or chatting with some godmother who passes by. Meanwhile, fishermen haul nets on the beach to bring in fresh fish. At sea, you can see the various buoys used for planting oysters and shellfish. Local fishermen take the molluscs out of the water. They are taken directly to the bars and restaurants, which serve the very freshest food. Gastronomy is privileged in the region. Be sure to eat at one of the locals' restaurants. The food is fresh, served in generous portions and the service is familiar. The view of the sea from some of the restaurants is beautiful and makes your mouth water even more. During summer afternoons, craft and souvenir shops on the waterfront are full of tourists. To learn more about the history of the region, pay a visit to the Church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa, which retains a characteristic of the XNUMXth century, and the Ecomuseum of Ribeirão da Ilha. The nightlife in Ribeirão da Ilha is quiet and pleasant. Restaurants remain open to serve dinner. During Carnival, there are street blocks and at Easter the Passion of Christ is staged. These are the times when there is more movement at night, in addition to the traditional Festa do Divino Espírito Santo, which takes place annually between June and July.