Casa da Fajãzinha

Die Lage über der Bucht von Sao Lorenco in Mitten der Weinberge ist fantastisch.

Außerhalb der Saison ist der Ort extrem ruhig. Bars und Restaurants haben wenn überhaupt nur sehr eingeschränkt geöffnet.

Absolutely gorgeous location, though you do need to be reasonably fit to access it. The cottage is adorable, cozy, and thoughtfully equipped with everything you need to feel right at home. The view over the Bay of São Lourenço is simply breathtaking and impossible to beat. We spent three days immersed in nature, relaxing on the deck and soaking in the peaceful surroundings. Having a kitchen and laundry facilities was a real bonus, especially if you enjoy preparing your own meals. There are a few restaurants nearby, but overall the area is wonderfully beautiful, tranquil, and quiet, making it the perfect retreat for a couple of introverts who love spending time in nature. The owners were friendly, welcoming, and always happy to help, making our stay even more enjoyable.

The villa is located on the mountainside, and accessing it requires a very steep climb. The owners do mention this in the listing, but it was considerably more strenuous than we had anticipated. The climb is part of the Caminho da Fajãzinha Trail and involves approximately 250 metres (820 feet) of elevation gain, so it’s worth arriving prepared. If you’re carrying groceries, as we were, be prepared for a rocky, uneven path. I would also recommend bringing hiking poles if you have them and packing your belongings in a backpack rather than rolling luggage. If you arrive on Santa Maria on the evening flight, be aware that finding the cabin in the dark can be challenging. Although the owners left the lights on for us, it was difficult to determine where the pathway into the property began, and we ended up getting lost before finding the entrance. The owners did their best to make our arrival as easy as possible, but I think a small illuminated sign at the entrance to the property, along with a Google Maps walking route, would make a big difference for future guests arriving after dark.

This was the second place we stayed during our visit to the Azores and the only place we stayed at on Santa Maria. The town of São Lourenço is lovely and remote. The views from the property are amazing - pictures simply don't do it justice. We could have spent most days just hanging out on the front deck area if we didn't find the beach so compelling. There is a public hiking trail pretty much ride outside the door so you can either do the quick hike down into town or hike up and build up your hiking stamina!

A host book would be helpful as we had to reach out to the hosts several times for things such as where to park, where to find the flatware, and the password for the wi-fi. As newbies to the island we weren't exactly sure where to park so a quick map with a location down by the beach parking would be quick and easy for folks like us who were still figuring out the logistics of the island. We appreciated the responses from the hosts and this feedback is to help make things easier so future guests don't have to reach out for these sorts of things. The hike up to the property is very steep and not built for everyone (>10% grade). There are broken wood pallets with exposed nails along the route. This is NOT the fault of the property owners as the hike goes up a public hiking trail so just be aware of this situation. The bed is a bit creaky and is a true double for those folks who wonder if the size is suitable for them.

La vista è davvero meravigliosa e al mattino, con la luce, si comprende tutto il fascino di questo luogo immerso nella natura. La casa è piccola ma dispone del necessario.

Siamo arrivati alle 21:30 e l'ultimo tratto era completamente al buio, senza illuminazione né indicazioni sufficienti. Terminata la strada, i navigatori non funzionavano più correttamente e la stradina verso la casa, visibile solo il giorno dopo, era praticamente impossibile da individuare. Grazie al tassista, che è stato una vera salvezza, abbiamo trovato la casa ma non la stradina d'accesso, dovendo attraversare con gli zaini l'ultima parte della vigna, ormai secca, e graffiandoci anche le gambe. Nessuno specifica inoltre che sia necessario considerare attentamente il tipo di bagaglio: per fortuna viaggiamo leggeri. Basterebbe un piccolo segnale o un'illuminazione discreta della sola stradina, compatibile con i vincoli del luogo, per rendere l'arrivo molto più semplice. Lo stesso tassista ci ha avvisati che i tre ristoranti della baia stavano chiudendo e ci ha consigliato di correre alla taberna: siamo stati accolti con grande gentilezza e abbiamo cenato con quello che rimaneva. Se dobbiamo fare un complimento sulla chiarezza delle informazioni, va sicuramente a lui che in pochi minuti ci ha spiegato ciò che avremmo dovuto sapere prima dell'arrivo serale. Il supermercato è a circa 4 km da Santa Bárbara o 11 km da Vila do Porto: data l'ora e tutto chiuso,era quindi impossibile fare la spesa. Sarebbe stato importante comunicarlo preventivamente e prevedere un piccolo kit di benvenuto. Durante il viaggio lo abbiamo trovato in altre case, anche centrali nei paesi, e lo abbiamo apprezzato come un bellissimo simbolo dell'ospitalità azzoriana: pane, latte e due dolcetti locali sarebbero bastati. Non chiediamo un servizio da ristorante, ma piccole attenzioni che fanno sentire accolto chi arriva tardi, siamo persone molto adattabili e lavoriamo nel settore. Peccato, perché il luogo è davvero meraviglioso: mare, silenzio, campagna, albe e tramonti spettacolari.