The 16 couples who have married on the feast day of Saint Anthony in Lisbon will arrive on Thursday at São Miguel where they will be spending their honeymoon. The "Weddings of Saint Anthony" are an initiative that has been promoted by the Lisbon City Hall since 1997.
This year, the Regional Government joined this event in an unprecedented initiative to promote the Azores tourist destination.
Couples will be expected upon their arrival at the João Paulo II airport at 7:45 AM by the Regional Director for Tourism, Miguel Cymbron, and the official of São Miguel Tourism Office, Pedro Arruda.
By 9 AM, the coupled will have breakfast with regional products at Royal Garden Hotel, where they will be accommodated. They breakfast also includes regional music by the "violas da terra" (traditional Azorean guitar) ensemble led by Rafael Carvalho.
The afternoon of the first day includes a visit to Gorreana Tea Factory at 3:30 PM, the oldest tea factory on São Miguel and unique in Europe. A visit to "Casa do Arcano" (set of sculptures depicting biblical events) in Ribeira Grande is scheduled for 5 PM; it is one of the most unique museums on the island. Upon returning to Ponta Delgada, the couple will have the opportunity of enjoying a aperitif that will be served at "Loja Açores" at Portas do Mar by 7:30 PM, followed by dinner at the restaurant of the Hotel School at 8:30 PM.
On the following day, June 15, the couples leave Ponta Delgada at 10h30 to visit the Vila Franca do Campo islet. After lunch, the programmes includes a trip to Furnas at 3 PM, one of the most prominent tourist spots of São Miguel. The couples will have the opportunity to walk by the crater lake and visit the hot springs and the Terra Nostra Park.
On Saturday, the programme for the "couples of Saint Anthony" starts at 11 AM with a boar tour to watch dolphins with departure and arrival at Caloura Port.
Saturday afternoon includes a guided tour to EXPOLAB at 2:30 PM, followed by a visit to the pineapple greenhouses in Fajã de Baixo an hour later. The Cultural Route on Antero de Quental starts at 5 PM.
couples will go on tour through the life of poet and philosopher Antero de Quental, which begins at the Colégio Garden and ends at the Ponta Delgada Public Library and Regional Archives. Dinner will be followed by a visit to OASA (Santana Astronomical Observatory).
A visit to the Sacred Art Centre of the Carlos Machado Museum in Ponta Delgada is scheduled for Sunday at 11 AM. The Sunday lunch will be offered by the Nordeste veterans and the "Ser Diferente" Youth Association at the Santo António Nordestinho Sports Club at 1:45 PM.
After returning to Ponta Delgada, the couple will go on sightseeing tour around Ponta Delgada on the Lagarta Tourist Trolley with departure at the kiosk near the Monument to the Emigrant, in front of Campo de São Francisco, and arrival at Portas do Mar. Dinner is scheduled for 7 PM at "Docas" restaurant.
On the last day, the "couples of Saint Anthony" will leave Ponta Delgada at 10:30 AM to visit Fogo Crater Lake. An hour later, they will have the opportunity to bathe in the thermal waters of Caldeira Velha. Lunch is scheduled for 1:30 PM at "Gato Mia" Restaurant.
Before returning to Lisbon, the couples will be welcomed by the President of the Government, Carlos César, and his wife, Luísa César, at Sant'Ana Palace at 4 PM.