Furna da Maria Encantada, Graciosa

Furna da Maria Encantada also known as Furna do Castelo, is a Portuguese cave located in the parish of São Mateus, municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Graciosa island, Azores archipelago.

This cavity presents a geomorphology of volcanic origin in the form of a lava tube located in a volcanic caldera slope. It presents a length of 56.5 m by a maximum width of 4.9 m by a maximum height of 5.8 m.

This lava tube, of very easy progression, is located on the summit of the Graciosa Caldera, roughly vertically aligned with the entrance tunnel inside of it. It has the particularity of having been originated by the overflow of lava on the rim of this crater which gives it a curious origin and the fact that the 3 openings it has were caused by the lateral collapse of the walls and not the roof, as well as the possibility to enjoy a beautiful panorama over the interior of the Graciosa Caldera and over the villages of Luz and Pedras Brancas, as well as Pico Timão and Serra das Fontes.

Gaspar Frutuoso reports in his work that: "...landing on a large sandy beach and not knowing where to go with his wife and children, because the land was all covered with thick trees, he found a path that the cattle had made, and walking along it through the land inside, he went to a furna, which is called the Furna do Castelo, made like a stone house, in the way of a very beautiful vault, where he entered and sheltered with his people;..."