Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel Island, Azores Portugal)

Ponta Delgada is a port city on Sao Miguel Island, also the biggest municipality (population around 70,000) and administrative capital of Azores Islands (Portugal's Autonomous Region).

There are 3 civil parishes which comprise the historical city - Sao Pedro, Sao Sebastiao, and Sao Jose. Ponta Delgada became region's capital under Portugal's revised constitution of 1976. The town is the centre of annual religious celebrations associated with the Feast of Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles. The festival is held in Campo de Sao Francisco (in front of Fort Sao Bras). The time-honoured feast day occurs the 5th Sunday of Easter. It attracts locals and other member islands, as well as groups from within Portuguese diaspora and numerous tourists.

One of the most popular non-religious events in Ponta Delgada is Noites de Verao (Nights of Summer). It is a summer event, that is normally held in the square of Campo do Sao Francisco, attracting family, friends and tourists, with a wealth of vendors selling refreshments, food, or small goods. This age-long festival features nightly musical events, from popular singers, folklore groups, concert bands, national and international stars. Noites de Verao is supported by the municipal government and usually starts in late June, as the "nights" run four months, until September.

In 2018, Azores Islands received a total of 180,000 cruise passengers via 136 ship calls (compared to the previous record year 2015 of 141,000 pax). Of those, Ponta Delgada handled 80 calls (124,000 pax), Praia da Vitoria 27 calls (30,000 pax) and Horta 29 calls (23,000 pax). For 2019 were booked total 145 ship calls with estimated 175,000 passengers. Maiden visits in 2019 included the newbuild ships Nieuw Statendam (2018), Celebrity Edge (2018), Roald Amundsen (2019), Hanseatic Nature (2019).

Ponta Delgada cruise terminal