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Ponta Delgada, located on São Miguel’s southwestern coast, is both the Azores' capital and its most populous city.
If there is an image that personifies Ponta Delgada, it would probably be the Portas da Cidade or "City Gates." These were constructed in the 18th Century and literally served as an entrance into town for those arriving at the harbor. Today, of course, the city has grown well beyond the gates. However they have been preserved as a symbolic emblem and a historical marker. The photography above was taken from "inside" the city looking out towards the harbor.
The Church of São Sebastiáo is the Igreja Matriz (mother church or main church) for Ponta Delgada and is located near the City Gates. It was constructed initially in the 16th Century, but was remodeled and expanded in the 17th and 18th Centuries. It is an interesting mixture of Portuguese Gothic, Manueline and Baroque styles.
The popular harbor contains a small marina for personal watercraft in a protected man-made cove on its eastern flank. From here it’s a short sail to the mouth of the harbor and out the Atlantic Ocean. I took this photograph from the area of the public pool looking through the marina and back onto Ponta Delgada.
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![[Portas da Cidade]](../../graphics/travel/portugal/sao_miguel_ponta_delgada_portas_da_cidade.jpg)
![[Igreja Matriz São Sebastiáo]](../../graphics/travel/portugal/sao_miguel_ponta_delgada_sebastiao.jpg)
![[Marina]](../../graphics/travel/portugal/sao_miguel_ponta_delgada_marina.jpg)