The highlights of the island are its lakes, at Sete Cidades to the west and at Furnas to the east. Near Sete Cidades lie two lakes separated by a narrow causeway, and the Vista do Reivillage viewpoint in the village is a great place from which to view them from above.

The water in one lake is blue while in the other it’s green – legend links the hues to a tale of unrequited love between a princess and a shepherd.

On the other side of the island, Furnas is surrounded by thermal springs and sits inside a crater. The best place to enjoy the waters is in the swimming-pool in the Terra Nostra Gardens (Rua Padre Jose Jacinto Botelho), which are open 9am-7pm daily in winter, 10am-7pm daily from May to October. Entrance costs €3 (£2.15). Eating cozido (the local stew) should be a feature of any visit to Furnas. It is traditional to take food down to the lake and leave it to cook slowly in the warm waters – someone is there every day to keep an eye on the cooking pots. Typical dishes include cozido do Portugal, which is made from pieces of salt cod, or a meat version with chicken, sausages, yams and carrots. It is possible to request cozido in advance from most restaurants.