Ilhéus de Raiz: A Journey Through the 9 Islands of the Atlantic
Azores, nine islands with unique beauty, identity, landscapes, ideas, and character. Separated into groups, but united by a shared history of struggles, heroism, and victories.
Lost in the middle of the Atlantic, some still hide beneath the sea, formed by volcanoes that shaped them. Each stone holds a story — even before history was written.
Island life, sometimes rustic in nature, yet with an incomparable sense of warmth. Houses built by the hands of a determined people, where even in the most challenging environments, joy overcomes sorrow and the harshness of daily life. Because the greatest wealth is being able to give the little you have.
The sea, stretching to the horizon, brings hope for a better day. But it also carries the longing for those who left in search of that future. And, at dawn, in weariness, we look to the neighbouring island in search of the embrace of those far away — or the strength of those who guide us to our destiny.
Whalers, fishermen, men of the land who still tell tales of courage. A tear escapes when remembering the weathered skin from salt and sun in times gone by. Everything begins with the words “in those days”, and the imagination takes us back — to a time when fear was constant, yet giving up was unthinkable.
Remembering is vital. It makes us recall the essence of our people, strengthening our roots. Because we will never be just an island, but islets that once marked a country in a legacy that crossed borders.
We began our journey by sea, asking for protection from Santa Maria, strength from Archangel Michael, and rest on Terceira, before setting off in search of a Graciosa revealed through its impressive cliffs. São Jorge offers the sword to fight the Pico dragon. Through the stormy channel, we arrived at Faial, where, from the sailors’ tavern, we sent news to those who remained. Exhausted, but fulfilled by victory, we rested in a field on Flores, guarded by a watchful Corvo.
We ended a tough, emotional, yet enriching journey. Along paths, rocks, and cobbled streets once trodden by nobles and common folk, where the man who tills the land with his hands becomes the noblest of all. To achieve the most precious of all: the bravery of those who reached paradise.
