The largest town on the island of Pico is called Madalena and is situated on its west coast. It is the natural administrative, shopping and tourist centre of the whole island.

Madalena is a lovely town for short walks through its compact centre or along the pretty coastal footpath, for swimming in natural seawater pools, and for accommodation, should you prefer towns with all the necessary facilities.

Book accommodation in Madalena

Sights and attractions

The town’s most striking feature is the beautifully maintained Church of Santa Maria Madalena, dating from 1892. Entry is free.

The church stands in the small historic centre near the harbour, which you can walk through in practically two minutes, as it consists only of the square and the adjacent streets.

About 200 metres to the north, you’ll also find a beautiful windmill.

However, do take a stroll along the well-maintained promenade by the ocean, heading south towards theCriação Velha vineyards.

On the way, you’ll also pass natural pools formed in the sea by lava deposits. The water in them is calm, making for safe swimming. These pools are surrounded by concrete steps, which provide easy access to the sea.

The Wine Museum and a visit to the winery

A popular tourist attraction is the Museo do Vinho, a small museum detailing the history of wine-growing on the island of Pico.

The Wine Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:30, and admission costs 2 eur. Admission is also free every Sunday.

Very popular excursions also head to the largest winery on Pico – Cooperativa Vitivinicola.

You can book a tour of the wine cellars, which includes wine tastings. However, tours are only available 2–4 times a day, so it is recommended that you book online in advance via the official website:picowines.com.

Accommodation in Madalena

Madalena is the ideal place to stay if you want to have all the practical amenities – such as supermarkets, restaurants and the harbour – close at hand.

Where’s the best place to stay?

• Hotel Caravelas **** – one of the island’s largest traditional hotels is situated right by the harbour
• Casa-do-Mar – beautiful apartments with views of the ocean and Faial Island in a quiet part of town
• Porto Velho Boutique Hostel – an affordable hostel with shared and private rooms right in the town centre.

Madalena is also the only sensible place to stay if you decide not to hire a car on the island, but to set off on organised tours (most of which are based in Madalena) or by bus.

Supermarkets – where to shop

Madalena is the hub of shopping on the island, and unless you’re eating out exclusively at restaurants, you’ll probably pop into one of the local supermarkets during your stay.

• SOL*MAR – map
  • Daily 8.30 am–8.00 pm
• Continente supermarket –map
  • Daily 8.30 am–9.00 pm, on Sundays until 8.00 pm only

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Pico.