Across Oceans and Generations: How Sister Cities Keep the Azorean Diaspora Connected (Part 2)

As highlighted in our previous edition, the 19 municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores have established 104 sister-city agreements with local communities across 13 countries—including the three primary destinations of the Azorean diaspora: the United States (38), Brazil (17), and Canada (4).

More than a hundred municipal partnerships reflect both the strength of the path already taken and the promise of what lies ahead. These ties are not merely symbolic—they represent a strategic commitment to strengthening the Azores’ global presence and deepening international relationships, a mission shared across national, regional, and local levels of governance.

The vast majority of these agreements connect Azorean municipalities with cities shaped by Azorean emigration in North and South America. What follows is a snapshot of this living network—one that not only reflects history but also invites future expansion.

In the United States:

In Massachusetts, Cambridge is twinned with Praia da Vitória and Vila Franca do Campo; Dartmouth with Lagoa, Povoação, and Nordeste; Fairhaven with Lagoa; Fall River with Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo, Povoação, and Nordeste; Hudson with Vila do Porto; New Bedford with Horta and Lagoa; Peabody with Santa Cruz da Graciosa; Rehoboth with Lagoa; Somerville with Vila Franca do Campo, Ribeira Grande, and Nordeste; Stoughton with Santa Cruz das Flores; and Taunton with Angra do Heroísmo and Lagoa.

In Rhode Island, Bristol is paired with Lagoa; East Providence with Ribeira Grande and Vila Franca do Campo; Newport with Ponta Delgada; and Pawtucket with São Roque do Pico.

In California, Artesia is twinned with Angra do Heroísmo; Fremont with Horta; Gilroy with Angra do Heroísmo; Gustine with Angra do Heroísmo; San Leandro with Ponta Delgada; Tracy with Velas (São Jorge); Tulare with Angra do Heroísmo; Turlock with Corvo; and Watsonville with Velas (São Jorge).

In Hawaii, Kauaʻi is a sister city of Ponta Delgada.

In Canada:

In Ontario, Brampton is twinned with Ribeira Grande, and Cambridge with Vila do Porto.

In Quebec, Sainte-Thérèse is paired with Lagoa, and Laval with Ribeira Grande.

In Brazil:

In Santa Catarina, Bombinhas is twinned with Lajes do Pico; Florianópolis with Angra do Heroísmo, Ponta Delgada, Praia da Vitória, and Velas (São Jorge); Governador Celso Ramos with Santa Cruz da Graciosa; Içara with Lajes das Flores; São Francisco do Sul with São Roque do Pico; and São José with Praia da Vitória.

In Rio Grande do Sul, General Câmara is paired with São Roque do Pico; Gramado with Angra do Heroísmo; Gravataí with Horta; and Porto Alegre with Horta and Ribeira Grande.

In Bahia, Salvador is twinned with Angra do Heroísmo.

In Espírito Santo, Viana is paired with Ribeira Grande.

In Minas Gerais, Resende Costa is twinned with Vila do Porto.

Beyond the Three Main Destinations:

Cape Verde—another Atlantic archipelago within the shared Macaronesian space—accounts for 12 partnerships with Azorean municipalities. On the island of Santiago, Praia is twinned with Ponta Delgada; Ribeira Grande with Angra do Heroísmo and Ribeira Grande; Santa Cruz with Lagoa and Praia da Vitória; São Domingos with Madalena do Pico; and Tarrafal with Povoação.

On Santo Antão, Porto Novo is paired with Angra do Heroísmo, Madalena do Pico, and Ribeira Grande. On São Vicente, the city of Mindelo is twinned with Angra do Heroísmo. On Sal Island, the city of Espargos is paired with Velas (São Jorge).

A Global Network:

Azorean municipalities also maintain nine additional partnerships spanning Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia: Pleven (Bulgaria) with Ponta Delgada; Jining (Shandong, China) with Angra do Heroísmo; Cartagena (Colombia) with Angra do Heroísmo; Betancuria (Canary Islands, Spain) and Cangas (Galicia, Spain) with Lajes do Pico; Cappannori (Tuscany, Italy) with Povoação; Uji (Kyoto, Japan) with Ribeira Grande; Caué (São Tomé and Príncipe) with Ponta Delgada; and San Carlos (Maldonado, Uruguay) with Praia da Vitória.

Together, these dozens of cities across four continents form a living map of Azorean identity—one sustained through migration, memory, and municipal diplomacy. Through these sister-city agreements, the Azores continue to affirm their place in the world.

José Andrade is the current Regional Director of the Azorean Communities for the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.