It feels like a secret place in the middle of the ocean. We’re not sure what sweeps us off our feet more—the sunset outside the window or the windmill with undeniable charm. We’re still picking our jaws up off the floor. Luckily, there’s no need to choose, because you get both, plus a garden straight out of a tropical fairytale—full of palm trees and fruit orchards. Winding through it all is an ancient lava stream, carrying rainwater from the Sete Cidades mountains straight to the Atlantic.

This 19th-century windmill is made for couples, where mornings smell like fresh coffee and breakfast awaits at your doorstep. You’ll find it on a lush green island where cows outnumber people and tea grows like in Asia—except this is still Europe. Welcome to São Miguel in the Azores, where nature went all out—Sete Cidades’ volcanic lakes come in two shades from entirely different palettes: one emerald, the other sapphire. And the rest? Like a box of holiday chocolates, you’ll discover it for yourself. Your hosts can’t wait to welcome you!

Photos: moinhodasfeteiras.com