The Biosphere Reserve of Fajãs de São Jorge was classified in 2016, covering the island's land area and surrounding marine area. Its name highlights one of its most important features: the fajãs.

This Reserve has an extraordinary set of natural, environmental and landscape values at regional, national and international level, as well as a significant number of endemic species, both fauna and flora.

The uniqueness of its landscape results from the long, narrow shape of the island, which follows an extensive central volcanic mountain range, highlighting the contrast between the imposing, steep cliffs and the fajãs. These contrasting landscapes are home to a high diversity of terrestrial, coastal and marine flora and fauna, including several endemic species.

These flat areas, located on the coastline and wedged between the sea and the cliffs, are as important from a geological and ecological point of view as they are from a cultural one.

The history of the settlement and the very identity of the inhabitants of São Jorge is closely linked to the fajãs, which allowed for the development of specific agricultural crops and the practice of transhumance. In terms of culture, it is worth mentioning the important religious and gastronomic heritage, particularly the São Jorge cheese.

The Biosphere Reserve of the Fajãs of São Jorge includes fajãs such as Fajã de João Dias; Fajã Vasco Martins, Fajã Rasa and Fajã do Manuel Teixeira; Fajã d'Além (north coast); Fajãs da Costa Norte (from Fajã Isabel Pereira to Fajã do Nortezinho); Fajã das Almas; Fajã da Fragueira, Fajã dos Vimes, Fajã dos Bodes and Fajã do Cavalete; Fajã do Gingal, Fajã de Além (south coast), Fajã de São João and Saramagueira.

In addition to the fajãs, the Protected Area for Habitat or Species Management of Pico da Esperança and Planalto Central, with the geosite of the central volcanic mountain range, is also an integral part of this Biosphere Reserve. Also worth mentioning are the Protected Areas for Habitat or Species Management and Resource Management, also included in the reserve, namely: Protected Area for Habitat and Species Management of the Northwest Coast; Protected Area for Habitat and Species Management of Fajã das Almas; Protected Area for the Management of Habitats and Species of the Southwest Coast; Protected Area for the Management of Habitats and Species of the Topo Coast and Protected Area for the Management of Resources of Topo.

• Biosphere Reserves
• Fajãs de São Jorge – SIARAM SIARAM

The discovery and settlement of São Jorge are shrouded in mystery. The first reference to São Jorge dates back to 1439, and it is known that around 1470, when there were already settlements on the west and south coasts and the town of Velas had already been founded, the Flemish nobleman Wilhelm Van der Haegen came to the island and established a settlement in Topo, where he died with a reputation for great virtues, having already had his name translated to Guilherme da Silveira. Its settlement must have been swift, with people coming from the north of the mainland, as well as its prosperity, since its captaincy was donated in 1483 to João Vaz Corte Real, grantee of Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira, and Velas received its town charter before the end of the 15th c.. Topo was the seat of the municipality in 1510, and Calheta in 1534, showing the vitality of an economy that, in addition to vineyards and wheat, had its main production in the growing of woad and the harvesting of urzela (exported to Flanders and other European countries, and used in dyeing).

The dynastic crisis caused by the ascent to the throne of Portugal of King Filipe II of Spain had repercussions in São Jorge, since the island of Terceira took the side of the pretender D. António, Prior of Crato, and the island only surrendered to the Spanish after the fall of Terceira in 1583. This was followed by a period of centuries in which the island remained almost isolated, due to the precarious shelter its ports offered to ships, as well as its limited economic importance. Even so, it was subject to attacks by English and French corsairs during the 16th and 17th centuries, and to devastating raids by Turkish and Algerian pirates.

At the end of the 16th c., a section of the fleet under the command of the Earl of Essex landed in the cove of Calheta. To repel them, the inhabitants threw heavy stones – the only weapons they had – and a soldier named Simão Gato attacked the enemy officer, knocking him down and snatching his flag.

In the 18th c., the French privateer Duguay-Trouin plundered São Jorge, and in 1816, an Algerian privateer, seeking to seize a merchant ship, was driven off by gunfire from the Calheta fortress. Other calamities struck São Jorge, such as shortages and food crises in bad harvest years from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in 1580, 1757 and 1808.

The isolation of the past has been broken with the works carried out in the two main ports, Velas and Calheta, and the construction of the airport, opening up new horizons of prosperity and progress for São Jorge, for which it can count on the full use of its natural resources, the expansion of cattle breeding and dairy farming, fishing and the canning industry.

Queijo de São Jorge DOP
Queijo de São Jorge DOP - Made from raw cow's milk, it is an aged cheese with a hard or semi-hard paste and a yellowish colour. Its production dates back to the middle of the 15th c., when it was encouraged by the Flemish community. The unique features of São Jorge PDO cheese are due to the island's soil and climate conditions, which have allowed it to be grown on pastures with a variety of crops that, in turn, have a positive influence on the quality of the milk;

Amêijoas da Caldeira de Santo Cristo
Regarded as a gastronomic delight, these clams, naturally bred in the lake of Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, are famous for their unique size, flavour and fleshy texture. The São Jorge recipe may differ, but the goal when cooking this mollusc is always the same: to refine the unique features of the clam itself. Paired with a good white wine, they are the ideal choice at the end of a day, discovering the island's charms;

Jantar da Matança do Porco
In former times, the day the pig was killed was a day of celebration, awaited with great joy by kids and adults alike. The dinners are characterised by a traditional menu consisting of fennel broth, meat sauce, “fressura”, black pudding, liver bait, sausages, yams, sweet potatoes and toasted pork rinds;

Torresmos de Porco
Pieces of pork which are cooked in their own fat until dry, usually served with sweet potatoes;

Molha de Carne
Pieces of pork which have been cooked in their own fat until dry, usually served with sweet potato fries;

Inhames de São Jorge
A unique type of potato due to its different flavour, as it is grown in “rivers” - wetlands near the banks of streams. It is typically served with sausage;

Bolo de Véspera
Baked around three days before the Feast of the Divine Holy Spirit and delivered on the eve, hence their name, they are also a secular sweet, with the right to a “chavão”, a kind of stamp (in this case, to refer to the dough), with which they are labelled, usually with the symbols of the Holy Spirit and of the person who made the cakes;

Bolos de Coalhada
They have been known for as long as we can remember to be made and distributed at the Divine Holy Spirit festivals and across the island of São Jorge. However, it is now a sweet that is on the verge of becoming forgotten. Its memory remains alive on the north coast of the island, in the parish of Santo António, where its recipe is passed down from generation to generation, especially for the Divine Holy Spirit festivities;

Espécies de São Jorge
They are a traditional sweet made on the island and their quality has earned them the Azores Brand Seal: Azores - Certified by Nature. Nowadays, it's a delicacy that contains spices such as fennel, cinnamon and chilli. It takes the form of small donuts made of tender dough, cut crosswise at the top, allowing the brownish-coloured filling to shine through;

Suspiros
They are small sweets made from egg whites and baked in the oven;

Esquecidos
After making the typical “suspiros”, a large quantity of egg yolks was left over. To avoid wasting this food, the “esquecidos” were made with the yolks, to which they added sugar and wheat flour.

Rosquilhas de Aguardente
These are a kind of bagels made with eggs, wheat flour and sugar, to which local brandy is added gradually. The bagels are boiled in a pan of water and a few cuts are made around them. They are then baked in a very hot oven;

Coscorões
It's a strip of dough made from wheat flour and eggs which, once fried, is usually sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon;

Aguardente de Canela
The culture of brandies complements the selection of local drinks, with the typical brandy flavoured with cinnamon, which is completely different from the more common cinnamon liqueurs and is produced exclusively by small producers on the island;

Angelica
Handmade liqueur wine. Its aroma is powerful, with hints of ripe fruit and honey. Its flavour starts off warm and develops into rich, sweet sensations;

Café da Fajã dos Vimes
The microclimate of some fajãs has allowed agricultural rarities to emerge, such as a plantation of coffee bushes, a rare case in Europe. In Fajã dos Vimes, you can enjoy a coffee with an intense flavour and aroma, made from locally harvested beans.

Festas de São Jorge
The festivity in honour of São Jorge, the patron saint of the town of Velas, takes place every year. This celebration takes place on 23rd April, which is why this date is a municipal holiday in the municipality of Velas. It is a religious festivity, with a mass and procession in honour of the patron saint São Jorge. The procession usually runs through the main streets of the historic center of the town of Velas, and it is usual for people to decorate the balconies of their houses with colourful quilts and decorate the streets with carpets of flowers as a tribute to the patron saint. In addition to the religious celebration, the municipality of Velas organises a more profane aspect of the festivity to mark the municipality's biggest day, with cultural activities.

Location: Vila das Velas
Date: 23rd April
Responsible Entity: Velas Church and Velas Town Hall

Festas do Espírito Santo
These festivities are common to all the islands, although they vary in some details from island to island, even within the island itself. Around each island, every parish has a chapel, called an Império, with its own brotherhood. These are considered to be the most typical religious festivities in all of the island's ethnography. They celebrate the third person of the Holy Trinity, in which the spirit of community and sharing reflects the true nature of these celebrations: a celebration by the people and for the people.

Location: All over the island
Dates: From May to September, with special emphasis on the 7th Sunday after Easter
Responsible Entity: Brotherhoods of the Holy Spirit

Domingo do Espírito Santo
Seven Sundays after the celebration of Easter, the whole region, and São Jorge is no exception, celebrates Divine Holy Spirit Sunday, or Pentecost Sunday. All over the island, the traditional processions take place, with the many different symbols of the Holy Spirit, especially the crowns, travelling from the house of the Mordomos (people who organise the festivity) to the church. After the celebration of Mass, the crowning takes place, during which the parish priest places the crown of the Holy Spirit on the heads of the people appointed by the Mordomos to receive this honour. The Mordomos usually serve the traditional Sopa do Divino Espírito Santo to the guests immediately after the Mass. In some localities, the tradition of horsemen and revellers takes place on the afternoon of the Sunday of the Holy Spirit.

Segunda-Feira do Espírito Santo e Dia dos Açores – Bodo de Leite
A regional holiday, the Monday of the Holy Spirit, and also Regional Day, is of great importance in São Jorge, more specifically in the parish of Santo Antão, in the municipality of Calheta, where the so-called Bodo de Leite de Santo Antão takes place. In the morning, a parade of allegorical carts takes place, some of which are still pulled by oxen of the Ramo-Grande breed. The allegorical carts are usually decorated according to a theme chosen by the Festival Committee. There is also a cattle parade through the main street of the parish. Afterwards, the members of the Festival Committee toast all those present with “massa sovada” (sweet bread), São Jorge cheese, wine and juice.

Location: Parish of Santo Antão
Date: Monday of the Holy Spirit
Responsible Entity: Festival Committee / Stewards (Mordomos)

Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário
The festivity in honour of Nossa Senhora do Rosário takes place in the parish of Rosais on 15th August, the date on which the Assunção de Nossa Senhora is also celebrated throughout the country, and is therefore a bank holiday. In this parish, whose patron saint is Nossa Senhora do Rosário, a mass and a procession are celebrated in her honour. In addition to the religious festivities, there is also a Festival Committee that organises the profane component, with several cultural activities taking place, including concerts by musical bands, usually of national renown, and also bullfighting, with two bullfights. The presence of emigrants, especially from the USA and Canada, is particularly significant.

Location: Parish of Rosais
Date: 15th August
Responsible Entity: Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário Parish Council

Festa de Santo Cristo – Romaria / Peregrinação
On the first weekend of September, the festivity of Senhor Santo Cristo da Caldeira takes place in one of São Jorge's most emblematic fajãs: Fajã de Santo Cristo. The island's population, devotees of Senhor Santo Cristo da Caldeira, have a habit of making pilgrimages to the fajã, with some people walking many kilometres on foot, as a way of making a promise, from the parishes where they live to the Sanctuary of Senhor Santo Cristo da Caldeira. On Sunday, there is a mass and a procession in honour of Senhor Santo Cristo da Caldeira, which runs through the streets of the fajã, followed by the famous Soups of the Holy Spirit.

Location: Fajã de Santo Cristo
Date: First weekend in September
Responsible Entity: Festival Committee

Dia de Todos os Santos / Pão Por Deus – Tradição jorgense
On All Saints' Day, the 1st of November, a bank holiday, it is a tradition for children all over the island to ask for Pão-Por-Deus: the children go to the houses in their respective parishes, and the person who opens the door gives them treats, which are placed in the little bags that the children carry to keep everything they receive.

Location: the whole island
Date: 1st November

Festa de Santa Catarina
The 25th of November is a municipal holiday in the municipality of Calheta, which celebrates the festivity in honour of its patron saint, Santa Catarina de Alexandria. On this day, the highlight is the celebration of Mass and a procession in honour of the patron saint, with the procession making its way through the main streets of the town, which are decorated to perfection, with a special emphasis on the flower carpets made by the local population in her honour. On this day, Calheta Town Hall serves the famous Sopas do Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit Soup) to all those who take part in this celebration.

Location: Vila da Calheta
Date: 25 November
Responsible Entity: Mother Church of Calheta/ Town Hall of Calheta

Dia dos Amigos/Dia das Amigas
Throughout the Region, and in the weeks leading up to Carnival, friendships are celebrated on two consecutive Thursdays. As a rule, on these days, groups of friends on the first Thursday and groups of friends on the following Thursday celebrate the bond of friendship that unites them with large gatherings, lunches and dinners, which are always characterised by a festive atmosphere.

Semana Cultural de Velas
In the first week of July, Velas Town Hall, in partnership with the Velas Cultural Association, organises Cultural Week. There are four days of festivities that usually start on the first Thursday in July and will last until Sunday. Local and regional culture is in the spotlight, with a programme that includes several performances by folklore and philharmonic groups, a parade of popular marches and a number of exhibitions. Bullfighting is also very prominent, with the festival programme usually including a bullfight and a bullfight by ropes. The importance given to nationally renowned bands and artists should be emphasised, with at least one concert a day, also as local bands and artists

Location: Vila das Velas
Date: First week of July
Responsible Entity: Velas Town Hall/Velas Cultural Association

Festival de Julho
A festivity that highlights the culture, traditions, traditions and habits of the municipality of Calheta. The July Festival takes place every year in the second week of July, usually starting on a Thursday and ending on the following Monday. It is the most popular profane festivity in the town of Calheta. The festivities' programme includes performances by folklore groups, philharmonic bands, a parade of popular marches and a variety of cultural events, as well as performances by local and national bands.

Location: Vila da Calheta
Date: Second week of July
Responsible Entity: Calheta Town Hall

Festa do Emigrante
Like its name suggests, this is a festivity dedicated to emigrants and, as a general rule, its expenses are covered by an emigrant who wishes to sponsor the festivity. It takes place in the parish of Urzelina, right by the sea, and features performances by folklore groups, parades of popular marches, local bands and sometimes national artists. Also, of particular importance is the bullfight in Urzelina harbour.

Location: Parish of Urzelina
Date: First weekend in August
Responsible Entity: Festival Committee

Dia das Montras
This is an Azorean tradition that takes place all over the archipelago. On this day, in São Jorge, both in the town of Velas and in the town of Calheta, local businesses decorate their shop windows to take part in the shop window competition. People come to the town centres to enjoy them, shop and socialise, signalling the start of the Christmas spirit.

Location: Vila da Calheta and Vila das Velas
Date: 1st December (Calheta) and 8th December (Velas)
Responsible Entity: Calheta Town Hall, Velas Town Hall, Velas Cultural Association, São Jorge Business Centre