The marriage of King João I's daughter, Isabel, to Filipe o Bom, Duke of Burgundy, strengthened ties between Portugal and Flanders. This explains the presence of many Flemish people in the settlement of the Azores.

Josse van Huertere, a Flemish nobleman, after learning of the discovery of the islands, obtained authorisation from King Afonso IV in 1466 to settle the island of Faial, where he set off with 15 other compatriots, claiming the existence of silver, tin and other precious metals.

They were all running away from the war in Flanders, looking for better living conditions. Once the lack of precious metals had been proven, and escaping the fury of those who followed him, Josse van Huertere fled to Lisbon, where, with the intervention of D. Isabel, Duchess of Burgundy, he obtained the Captaincy of Faial on 21st February 1468. Once this was done, he returned to the island, accompanied by more Flemings, who settled in Lomba dos Frades (Praia do Almoxarife). There, they felt a lack of drinking water and opted to move to an inland valley, today known as Vale dos Flamengos.

Since there was no harbour nearby, a group moved to the Conceição area and another to Angústias, more specifically to the Porto Pim area, giving origin to the future city of Horta.

Around 1470, another group of Flemish arrived in Faial, led by Wilhelm van der Haegen, bringing with them the first seeds of pastel (a dye plant from which weavers obtained the colour blue) and whose cultivation remained profitable until 1700.

A conflict with Josse van Huertere caused him to move away from the island, taking him through the rest of the archipelago until he settled on the island of Flores and began its settlement there.

Flemish immigration was always accompanied by Portuguese from the mainland and other islands, so that by 1507 the Flemish language had already been absorbed into Portuguese.

In 1583, in the continuity of the occupation of the Azores, which began with the landing on the island of Terceira, a Spanish fleet headed for Faial. A body of men-at-arms landed in the area of Pasteleiro (Angústias) and fought with their defenders, reinforced by French soldiers, eventually conquering the island. This was followed by English privateers, who inflicted great damage, and by the earthquake of 1672, which caused major destruction.

In the 19th c. , Faial took an active part in the struggles between the liberals and the absolutists, eventually deciding in favour of the liberals and receiving a visit from King Pedro IV in 1832. In addition to its valiant fighters, Faial contributed to the liberal cause with an arsenal that was used to supply the fleet that landed in Mindelo. Its position on the Atlantic and the existence of a sheltered harbour attracted orange traders and American whalers, who came to refuel until around 1860. In the 20th c., it was an important centre for submarine cable connections and took part in the first steps of aviation.

Faial today is a growing island with an economy based on agriculture, cattle breeding, dairy farming, fishing, commerce and tourism.

Faial's gastronomy doesn't diverge much from that of the other islands in the archipelago. The use of fish and seafood is due to the fact that it is an island facing the sea, although meat is also a tradition in its gastronomy.

Queijos da Ilha
Several types of cheese are produced on the island of Faial, all of which are made from pasteurised cow's milk:
Ilha Azul – this is a full-fat, ripened, semi-hard cheese with a soft, buttery texture. It is round in shape and slightly flattened at the ends;
Capelinhos – matured for a minimum of four months and has a semi-hard paste and a yellowish colour;
Moledo – matured, soft cheese, available in small and large sizes;
Morro – handmade, soft and buttery, also available with garlic and herbs.

Caldeirada de peixe
A typical Azorean dish, made with different types of fish, such as blacktail comber, Atlantic wreckfish or Spanish ling, potatoes, onions and other spices.

Caldo de Peixe
A broth made with several species of fish, such as seabream, dogfish, Red sea-bream, Yellowmouth barracuda, blacktail comber or Amberjack, and flavoured with aromatic herbs from the region, vinho de cheiro (typical wine), local pepper, among others.

Polvo guisado com vinho tinto
The octopus is stewed in red wine or vinho de cheiro, with chilli peppers, among other spices, and is served with white potatoes, white rice or eaten as an appetiser.

Lapas grelhadas
A seafood snack popular in the Azores, in which limpets are grilled with ingredients such as garlic, chilli, butter and lemon juice.

Arroz de lapas
A dish made with limpets (removed from their shells) mixed with rice, starting with a sauté made with olive oil, onion, garlic, tomato pulp and ground pepper.

Torresmos de pele
The pork skin is fried in lard until it becomes crispy and is ideally served in small cubes as an appetiser.

Torresmos de vinha-d’alhos
Pieces of pork ribs fried in lard and seasoned with garlic, chilli, wine and salt, ideally served with potatoes, white rice, yams or cornbread.

Caçoila
Typical of the times when they used to do the “matança do porco” (slaughter pigs). It's a dish of pork braised in onion, garlic, bay leaves and lard, then diced potatoes and boiled rice at the end. Seasoned with peppercorns, salt, cinnamon, chilli and red wine.

Linguiça com inhames
One of the most traditional dishes in the Azores, this is a typical sausage of the region, made mainly at the time of the “slaughter of the pig”, from meat broken into small cubes, marinated in a garlic vinegar, with which the tripe is then filled. It is served with yams, a kind of potato that is widely used in the Azores as a side dish.

Morcela com batata doce
It's also a typical pork sausage, in which the pig's blood is used, along with onion rings, chilli peppers, breadcrumbs and salt. The pig's tripe is also used in black pudding: after being thoroughly washed, it is stuffed with the previous preparation. It is cooked in a large pan and then fried and served with the sweet potato.

Sopas do Espírito Santo
Traditional dish with the same name as the festivities in honour of the Divine Holy Spirit, consisting of meat dishes, vegetables and bread, which is stewed with the broth in which the meat was cooked.

Galinha com debulho
A typical Christmas Day dish, it consists of using the chicken's giblets to make the stuffing, or “debulho”, that is served with the roast chicken

Molha de carne
A beef dish typical of the islands of Faial and Pico. The meat is cooked in a large pan, where potatoes, onion, garlic, lard, chilli and red wine are added and it is cooked slowly until all the ingredients are ready.

Filhoses
A sweet typical of the region at Carnival time. They're like sweet pastries wrapped in sugar and cinnamon.

Coscorões
Traditional sweets from the region, typical during Carnival, and are strips of fried dough with a crunchy texture, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

Fofas
A typical sweet from the island of Faial only made during Carnival. It is made of a pastry that is flavoured with fennel seeds and filled with lemon or vanilla cream.

Massa sovada
A sweet bread, typical of the Azores, made with flour, sugar, butter, yeast and eggs, among other ingredients. It is typical of the Holy Spirit festivities.

Bolo de milho
A round, flat bread made from boiled maize and wheat flour and seasoned with salt. It is traditionally baked in a wood-fired oven, but some people bake it in a frying pan. It has a soft texture and a sweet flavour.

The island of Faial has several popular and religious events which, with their traditional character, contribute to its cultural identity. These activities are:

Primeiro banho do ano
A tradition first organised by a local group of swimmers. The first swim, or first dive of the year, takes place at Porto Pim Beach on the morning of the first day of the year.
Location: Horta, Praia do Porto Pim
Date: 1st January
Responsible Entity: Horta Town Hall / Group of swimmers.

Dias de amigos, amigas, compadres e comadres
An Azorean tradition linked to the preparations for Carnival. The four Thursdays before Carnival are dedicated to a different kind of meeting between friends, godfathers and godmathers respectively, where friendship is celebrated around a table full of delicacies. These are special evenings where the freedom of the carnival spirit brightens up the restaurants and streets of Faial.
Location: All over the island
Date: Thursdays, starting the fourth week before Carnival
Responsible Entity: restaurants, discos, sports groups

Carnaval
The season before Lent, exclusively dedicated to fun. Festivities where people impersonate other personalities or simply wear masks to cover their faces. The participants travel from parish to parish to take part in the different dances, “assaltos”, matinées and parades.
Location: All over the island
Date: Friday to Tuesday, usually in February
Responsible Entity: Sports groups, parish councils, philharmonic societies

Triatlo Peter café sport
A sports event featuring windsurfing, mountain biking and kayaking, taking place along the 3 islands of the triangle: Faial, Pico and São Jorge.
Location: Faial, Pico and São Jorge
Date: April (subject to change)
Responsible Entity: Peter Café Sport

Ultra Blue Island/ Triangle Adventure
A sports event that is part of the national trail races in which runners from all over the world cover dozens of kilometres on the island of Faial.
Location: Faial / Faial, Pico and São Jorge
Date: May / October
Responsible Entity: Azores Trail Run

Festas do Espírito Santo
These are festivities common to all the islands, although they differ in some details from one to another, and even within the same island. Every parish has a chapel, called Império, with its own brotherhood. They are one of the most striking features of the Azorean identity, representing a cult that, as well as marking daily life on the islands, determines identity features that follow the Azoreans wherever emigration has taken them. They are considered to be the most characteristic religious festivities in all of the island's ethnography. The procession, with its symbols (crown, salver and sceptre), takes place from the ‘mordomo's’ (steward) house to the Império, which is the most important point in this festivity, where the mordomo gives his guests a meal consisting of “Espírito Santo” (Holy Spirit) soups, boiled meat, battered dough, wine and, depending on the part of the island, also roast meat and rice pudding.
Location: All over the island
Dates: April to August - especially Pentecost Sunday, the 2nd and 3rd Holy Spirit Sundays and Holy Trinity Sunday - Between the 7th and 8th Sunday after Easter
Responsible Entity: Brotherhoods of the Holy Spirit

Nossa Senhora das Angústias
It is the most important religious festival on the island and the patron saint of Faial. This tradition dates back to the time when Faial was first settled, when D. Brites de Macedo ordered the construction of the original chapel and placed there the image of Nossa Senhora das Angústias, which he brought from Flanders.
This event has a religious aspect, with a procession and mass, and a profane aspect, with performances by philharmonic bands, singing groups, folklore, concerts, among other entertainment.
Location: Angústias
Date: 6th Sunday after Easter
Responsible Entity: Angústias Church Festival Committee

Rally Ilha Azul
This event is part of the Azorean rallies circuit, which has been gaining more importance and new fans every year.
Location: Faial
Date: June
Responsible Entity: Clube Automóvel do Faial

Festas de São João
The festivities in honour of São João are held all over the island, but it is in Largo Jaime de Melo that they are celebrated most intensely, as this is where the chapel of São João is located. During these two days, there are concerts, performances by philharmonic bands, folk groups, singing groups, marching parades, bonfires and food stalls selling grilled sardines and many other traditional snacks.
Location: Largo Jaime de Melo, Flamengos and the rest of the island
Date: 24th June
Responsible Entity: Horta Town Hall

Dia da cidade – Aniversário da cidade da Horta
This event celebrates the elevation of Horta from town to city on 4th July 1833. Every year on 4th July, the city's anniversary is celebrated with concerts, philharmonics, parades, folklore and other entertainment, and paired with good traditional snacks.
Location: Horta
Date: 4th July
Responsible Entity: Horta Town Hall

Semana do Mar
The biggest festivity on the island, dedicated to the men of the sea. Its origins lie in the Portsmouth - Horta regatta, which took place in 1975. Since then, it has been one of the archipelago's major summer entertainment events and a major nautical festival. But beyond the sea, there are also activities on land, such as philharmonic parades, folk groups, singing groups, concerts by national and international bands, a book fair, exhibitions, an ethnographic procession, among others. All this is paired with the island's gastronomic delicacies.
Location: Horta
Date: first to second Sunday in August
Responsible Entity: Horta Town Hall

Noite das montras
As part of the “Dezembro em Festa” festivities, the “Noite das Montras” has a vast programme, ranging from soup competitions to concerts, parades and taverns with snacks. The highlight of this event is among traditional commerce, where the city's shop windows take on a different flavour, competing against each other for the prize of originality.
Location: Horta
Date: 8th December
Responsible Entity: Horta Town Hall and Horta Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Passagem de ano
The people from Faial gather in societies and other social centres to celebrate New Year's Eve to the sound of entertainment provided by the several dance groups that perform to liven up this special night. When there are fireworks, the stage is Avenida 25 de Abril, where several hundred people gather to watch the show and ‘break the New Year’.
Location: Horta
Date: 31st December to 1st January
Responsible Entity: Horta Town Hall

Santos padroeiros
All parishes have their patron saint, a symbol of devotion. Thus, every year, and especially between May and September, celebrations are held in their honour, always with a religious and a profane part, which include a procession, mass, a festival with auctions, a fair, food stalls, performances by philharmonic bands and dances.
Location: All over the island
Date: All year round
Responsible Entity: Festival Committee of each parish