Poça da Dona Beija

Poça da Dona Beija in Furnas on the island of São Miguel in the Azores is among the most enchanting wild thermal bathing experiences in Europe, a natural pool of iron-rich hot spring water set in a lush tropical garden of tree ferns, hydrangeas, and Japanese criptomeria on the shores of the Furnas caldera lake, accessible free of charge as part of the volcanic park surrounding the geothermal valley. The ferruginous spring water stains the surrounding rocks a vivid ochre and gives the bathing pools a warm, mineral-rich quality that eases muscle tension and softens skin in a natural setting maintained by the municipal park service with extraordinary care for the volcanic ecosystem. The nearby Furnas village, where geothermal heat cooks the famous cozido das Furnas stew in pots buried in volcanic earth for six hours, creates a gastrogeothermal experience unique to São Miguel and inseparable from the thermal bathing culture of this remarkable Azorean community.