Located in Faial Natural Park, the Monte da Guia Trail is now provided with guidance signs in order to enhance the safety conditions for visitors. The intervention carried out in this trail also included the partial removal of the asphalt pavement in the trail, which has a total extension of about two kilometres.
This trail runs around one of the major environmental protection sites on the island of Faial: Monte da Guia; the latter is an 11 thousand year old volcano. It also comprises the Caldeirinhas, which was in 1980 the first marine area to be regulated in the Azores.
In addition to its high environmental and landscape relevance, this site also has an important historical past since it was the summer destination of the Dabney family, who lived on Faial between 1806 and 1894. They left a building heritage that was recently recovered by the Azorean Government and is currently part of Faial Natural Park.
The Lira Viewpoint, the Dabney House, a former summer residence and the current centre dedicated to the history of this North American Family, as well as the Porto Pim Aquarium, the first whaling factory on Faial and the current Living Fish Station, are part of the complex that can be visited in Monte da Guia. It is a must for those who want to know the natural, architectural, historical and socio-cultural heritage of this island.
The space that portrays the life of the Dabney family in the 19th century on Faial Island may be visited every day in the summer from 10 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 6 PM.
While visiting the centre, visitors will watch a documentary on this family, a co-production of RTP Açores - Faial, Regional Director for the Environment and Horta City Hall.
The Porto Pim Aquarium features some common coastal species, a living fish transfer station, an exhibition on the Azores Marine Park and a film about the deep sea of the continental shelf adjacent to the archipelago. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM.
The Aquarium aims to promote the knowledge on the Azores Sea. In this context, environmental education and awareness raising actions as well as the recovery of sensitive marine animals are the main missions of Faial Natural Par for this centre.