Gruta das Torres, Natural monument and lava cave in Criação Velha, Azores, Portugal
The volcanic cave system extends over 5.2 kilometers through interconnected tunnels formed by ancient lava flows on the western slopes of Pico Island.
The first scientific exploration of the cave occurred in 1990, leading to its documentation as the longest lava tube in the Azores by speleologists in 1991.
The cave received protection status as a regional natural monument in 2004, reflecting the Portuguese commitment to preserve geological formations in the Azores.
The first 450 meters of the cave system remain open for guided tours with groups of 15 people, maintaining a year-round temperature of 16 degrees Celsius.
The tunnel structure displays seven distinct wall layers with lateral benches and three cornices, demonstrating an elaborate drainage pattern from past volcanic activity.
Location: Azores
Inception: 2004
GPS coordinates: 38.49430,-28.50240
Latest update: March 15, 2025 14:02
Portugal extends well beyond its main tourist centers. Away from the established routes lie medieval villages like Monsanto, where granite houses wedge themselves between massive boulders, or the fortified hilltop town of Marvão overlooking the Spanish border. Peneda-Gerês National Park spreads across forests, rivers and centuries-old settlements connected by hiking trails. The coastline varies considerably: Cabo Espichel with its cliffs and remote pilgrimage site, the rock formations at Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, the striped wooden houses of Costa Nova facing the ocean. The Azores offer crater lakes such as Lagoa das Sete Cidades, volcanic caves like Gruta das Torres and thermal springs at Caldeira Velha. Madeira presents the coastal village of Paul do Mar and the plateau of Fajã dos Padres, accessible only by cable car. The list includes religious structures such as Alcobaça Monastery, the bone chapel in Évora and Convento dos Capuchos in the forests near Sintra. Historic fortifications like Almourol Castle on a Tagus island or the fortress at Sagres on the continent's southwestern tip complete the picture.
Mount Pico
9.4 km
Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture
4 km
Fajã dos Cubres
11.9 km
Fort of Santa Cruz
11.6 km
Nature Park of Flores
11.9 km
Monte da Guia Special Area of Conservation
11.1 km
Porto Pim Whale Factory Museum
11.2 km
Fort of Greta
10.6 km
Bartizan of Porto Pim
11.8 km
Fajã dos Tijolos
11.9 km
Military Battery of Espalamaca
11.2 km
Colégio dos Jesuítas da Horta e sua igreja (Santíssimo Salvador, hoje igreja matriz da Horta)
11.8 km
Porto Pim
11.5 km
Fajã de João Dias
11.9 km
Nature Park of Santa Maria
11.9 km
Cultura da Vinha-Zona Norte
7.8 km
Fajã do Belo
11.9 km
Antiga Fábrica da Baleia do Porto Pim
11.2 km
Capela de Nossa Senhora da Guia (Horta)
11.4 km
Fuerte de São Sebastião de Porto Pim
11.6 km
Reduto da Patrulha
11.6 km
Ponta de São Mateus Lighthouse
9.2 km
Forte de Porto Pim
11.4 km
Horta Breakwater Light
11.3 km
Paços do Concelho da Madalena do Pico
5 km
Madalena Pier Head Light
5.4 km
Piscinas da Madalena
5.2 km
Câmara Municipal da Horta
11.8 kmReviews
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