The capital of the island is well-known by Santa Cruz and we can explore it on foot since most of the most interesting visits they are around or near the leafy central seat Praça Fontes Pereira de Melo, better well-known by Rossio and also around the two adjacent water river basins that used to be used like water-bearing reserves for the inhabitants during the times of drought. Today, they have been reconverted two municipal lakes, surrounded by flowers and dragon trees. In the seat, they do not lose the great City council, with its three balconies of forge. To the south of the seat we found a solitary bell tower after the landslide in the S XX of the ruins of the church and the Franciscano monastery that accompanied it. This religious set began to deteriorate itself after the expulsion of the monks. Throughout the streets that take us to the Rossio, pretty family houses remember the splendor to us of the island during the prosperous times of grape growing. To the east of both lakes (we followed in center) two churches dominate the line of the horizon, “skyline” of Santa Cruz: the Igreja de Misericórdia and the Igreja First of Santa Cruz, much greater than the previous one. The this last, nearest one the sea is the parochial church. It was constructed in renewed S XVI and in the XVIII being extended to three ships. Its white and black facade resists with the interior and its impressive altar carved and golden and to pieces of altar like those of Jesus Christ way tile de la Cruz and scenes; the interruption of the scenes is related to the later alterations of the church. The Igreja gives to Mercy of S XVI, also well-known by Igreja do Santo Christ by the figure of Santo two Christ Milagres which we found in the main altar, also counts on an intrincate altar carved in wood and on very interesting paintings. During the celebrations of the more important religious celebration of the island, the Festa do Senhor Santo Christ, in the second fortnight of August, this church is the center of all the religious celebrations and his Christ leaves in a great procession around the city. Among other festividades in this Festa, he also has in excess of bulls, called touradas.
To the north of the city council, in the direction of the sea we found the museum ethnographic Museu gives Graceful, inaugurated in 1982 and that lodges 2.500 pieces in three locations. Many of the objects of the main museum were left by the inhabitants who emigrated to the U.S.A. or Canada and many of these objects continue being used in the countryside. The collection of canes with grips carved in whale bone deserves special mention. Other rooms are dedicated to the elaboration process of the wine. The second part of the museum, the Barração gives Baleeiros Canoes - an old whaling warehouse we found it in front of the sea to a pair of streets to the north of the main building. Old a whaling one, bones of whale, radio receivers and flags remember the times to us when the fishing of these mammalian ones was allowed in the island of Graceful. The Moinho de Vento is an old recovered mill that continues working and can be visited previous appointment. We found to the south of Santa Cruz in the called town Fontes and is part, also of the Museu gives Graceful.