Fodor's Expert Review Centro de Interpretacao do Vulcao dos Capelinhos

When the Capelinhos Volcano erupted in the 20th century, it completely changed not only the landscape of Faial, but the population as well. The undersea eruption created a lunar-like island that extended the coastal land mass, and resulted in about half of the population leaving Faial, never to return. Today you can visit the innovatively designed Volcano Museum at the site of the volcano—created underground to respect the landscape above—to get a better sense of what happened at that time, as well as to learn more about the geological history of the Azores. If time permits, start with the 10-minute film for an introductory background on volcanoes. Afterward, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse, partially buried during the eruption, for panoramic views. Once back outside, you have the option of taking the steep climb up the volcanic ridge to get an even better sense of the desolate terrain.