São Lourenço Beach

São Lourenço Beach is located in the bay of São Lourenço, in the parish of Santa Bárbara, municipality of Vila do Porto, on the island of Santa Maria, in the Azores. This beach is one of the largest in the archipelago, at the bottom of a very old volcanic slope and occupied by vineyards planted in corrals formed sometimes by hedges or sometimes by low basaltic stone walls. The grapes of these vineyards produce the wine of São Lourenço. The long sandy beach is, from time to time, cut by low rock outcrops that advance into the sea. At its southern end, the São Lourenço islet stands out, a curious rocky structure with a small natural pier and a cave with stalactites and stalagmites, only accessible by boat. This beach and the surrounding area are classified as a nature reserve: São Lourenço Bay Nature Reserve.