Santa Maria was the first island of Azores to be discovered.  The actual date of the discovery of Santa Maria is still unknown. What we do know for sure is that Portuguese caravels reconditioned it's coast in 1427 and that Goncalo Velho Cabral, a knight of the Order of Christ and a service navigator for Prince Henry, brought cattle to Santa Maria.  Santa Maria was the first island of Azores to be colonized. Pioneers went ashore and settled in Praia dos Lobos.  One such pioneer, Joao Soares of Ablergaria, a nephew of Goncalo Velho Cabral, gave a new impluse to the settlement of Santa Maria, bringing over families from mainland Portugal. Agriculture on Santa Maria consisted mainly of grape crops, wheat crops, potatoes, yams, fruits, livestock raising, and dairy products.

Development of Santa Maria was rapid until the end of the 1400's and led to the first town charter in Azores named Porto, today known as Vila Do Porto.

The island of Sant Maria offers excellent watersports facilities.  Special mention to: Praia, Santo Espirito, Sao Lourenco, Sao Pedro and Vila do Porto - a village with superb manor houses, mother-church, and Nossa Senhora dos Anjos Chapel (where Christopher Columbus' crew prayed).Azores Azores