15 Essential Items to Purchase in Ponta Delgada

Planning a getaway? Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience and explore more than just one small corner of the world.

On a transatlantic cruise, you'll journey from London or Barcelona to New York City, making memorable stops at stunning coastal destinations like Ponta Delgada.

When you embark on a cruise to Ponta Delgada, located in Portugal, you’ll be visiting the primary city of the nine Azores Islands, an archipelago situated in the mid-Atlantic.

Upon your arrival in this delightful Portuguese city, you'll find yourself wondering why you hadn't visited sooner.

Ponta Delgada features whitewashed buildings adorned with black volcanic rock, surrounded by lush greenery, several active volcanoes, and a rich diversity of marine life.

This destination boasts a unique blend of natural wonders that are hard to find elsewhere. While discovering this extraordinary region, don't miss out on these 15 items to buy as keepsakes of your visit.

1. Basalt Jewelry

The Azores Islands are home to 26 active volcanoes, which supply an ample amount of basalt, a striking black volcanic rock. While it’s commonly used in construction and roadwork, this material is also crafted into stunning jewelry. In Ponta Delgada, you can find a variety of basalt jewelry, including bracelets, rings, and necklaces made of gold or silver.

2. Pottery

Located just outside of Ponta Delgada in Lagoa, skilled ceramic artists have been handcrafting stunning blue and white pottery and mosaic tiles for over 150 years. Each piece is signed and dated by the artisan, making these unique handmade bowls, vases, teapots, address tiles, and more perfect souvenirs to take home.

3. Fish-Scale Flowers

While fish scales are typically discarded, some talented artists in the Azores transform them into exquisite decorative flowers on velvet and wooden canvases. These stunning creations are truly a sight to behold. You can find fish-scale flowers in various craft shops throughout Ponta Delgada, perfect for bringing a piece of this artistry back home.

4. A Barcelos Rooster

For a charming good luck souvenir, consider the famous Portuguese Barcelos rooster. According to legend, a traveler was wrongfully accused of theft and sentenced to hang. In his final moments, he requested to speak with the judge.

While dining on roasted rooster, the judge paused to listen to the traveler’s plea. The traveler claimed that if he were innocent, the rooster would stand and crow. To everyone’s amazement, it did, and the traveler was saved. Today, these playful roosters showcase a white or black body adorned with vibrant blue, red, and yellow patterns.

5. Handwoven Items

Weaving is one of the oldest crafts in the Azores Islands, and artisans continue to create these products by hand using wooden looms. If you appreciate hand-woven items, consider picking up a lovely blanket, shawl, tote bag, or scarf in your favorite colors and geometric patterns.

6. Woven Baskets

Basket weaving has a rich history in the Azores Islands, particularly in Ponta Delgada. Today, local craftsmen still employ traditional techniques to craft woven baskets in various shapes, sizes, and designs.

The basket designs from the Azores feature unique characteristics, offering a diverse range of selections. You can choose one or more of these fascinating handmade baskets at numerous shops and markets throughout Ponta Delgada.

7. A Laphina

If you’re on the lookout for the ideal holiday gift, consider a laphina, a charming miniature nativity scene that many Azorean households display during the Christmas season. These delicate works of art are set within decorative boxes or glass domes and showcase tiny figures along with bits of seashells, moss, and dried flowers.

8. Canned Tuna in Olive Oil

Another delicious culinary specialty of the Azores Islands is canned tuna preserved in olive oil. Local fishermen catch the tuna using live bait on individual fishing poles, selling their catch to grocery stores and specialty shops in Ponta Delgada.

Bring home this Portuguese delicacy to savor the rich, flavor-packed memories of your travels throughout the Azores Islands.

9. Lace

On the islands of Pico and Faial in the Azores, skilled artisans craft exquisite handmade lace adorned with rosettes connected by delicate stitching. This traditional Azorean lace produces intricately designed napkins, tablecloths, and runners. Bring home a few of these lovely textiles to elevate your family dinners.

10. Wine

The volcanic soil of the Azores Islands nurtures high-quality grapevines, while the region's winemaking techniques are distinctly tailored to its mid-Atlantic location. On Pico Island, known as the archipelago's primary wine production hub, vines are cultivated within rustic stone walls to shield them from the occasionally rough seas.

These vineyards have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. With 33 grape varieties cultivated in the Azores Islands, you’re sure to discover a selection of rich and flavorful red or white wines to take home.

11. Matiz Embroidery

Prefer embroidery over lace? The artisans of the Azores Islands are celebrated for their hand-stitched Matiz embroidery. These embroidered handkerchiefs showcase blue thread on white fabric, featuring the distinctive matiz stitch. Popular designs include clovers, carnations, and intertwined hearts. You can find these embroidered treasures in various shops throughout Ponta Delgada.

12. Liqueur

Fruits such as pineapples, passion fruit, bananas, figs, and blackberries thrive in the mild climate of the Azores. It's no surprise that these fruits are often used to craft delightful liqueurs. With numerous liquor stores in Ponta Delgada, you can find a delicious fruit-infused liqueur to bring back for your family and friends.

Remember, cruise shoppers are allowed to purchase one duty-free bottle of alcohol per adult, and any alcohol bought will be securely stored with your Dinogo crew until the end of your journey.

13. Coffee

Europe's only coffee plantation is located on São Jorge Island, northwest of Ponta Delgada. The island's steep, sea-level landscape and fertile soil provide an ideal setting for growing coffee beans. Be sure to grab a bag of whole or ground beans from coffee shops throughout Ponta Delgada to take home with you.

14. Pineapple Products

Among all the delicious fruits cultivated in the Azores Islands, the pineapple stands out as the king. Grown in greenhouses on São Miguel Island near Ponta Delgada, this fruit features a plump shape and a small crown that becomes more ripe and flavorful as it transitions from green to yellow.

If you're a pineapple enthusiast, you can take home a selection of pineapple-infused products, such as pineapple liqueur or pineapple jam.

15. Tea

Located near Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores, you can discover the last two operational tea plantations in all of Europe. These plantations produce a variety of high-quality teas, including black, green, and orange pekoe.

One of these plantations dates back to 1883. They harvest tea leaves and send them to an adjacent factory, where they are processed using vintage 19th-century English machinery. While in São Miguel, be sure to take a factory tour, sample their premium teas, and maybe even buy some of your favorite blends to bring home.

For an unforgettable vacation, consider a European cruise across the Atlantic, with a stop at the stunning port of Ponta Delgada. While you're there, remember to pick up a few souvenirs to cherish your trip for years to come. Any of these 15 items will make a wonderful, authentic keepsake or gift.