Located in the Western Group of the Azores archipelago, Corvo is the smallest of the nine islands, covering just 6.6 square miles. This unique island, along with Flores, has been designated by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve due to its volcanic origins and rich biodiversity.
Discovered by Portuguese explorer Diogo Teive in 1452, the island was initially called Insula Corvi. Today, the only settlement on the island is Vila Nova do Corvo, nestled in a lava fajã that forms the island’s main level surface. This picturesque village features facades made of black stone with white trimmed windows and doors, and narrow streets known locally as canadas, which are paved with rolled pebbles and weathered slabs.
The use of wooden locks on the doors of houses, made by the craftsmen of Corvo, is one of the many traditions that symbolize life on this peaceful island, where everyone knows each other. Don’t miss visiting the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres, the island’s patron saint, which contains a picture of the Virgin and Child of Flemish origin, and an Indo-Portuguese ivory crucifix, as well as the Corvo Visitors’ Centre.
