Angra do Heroísmo

Classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage City, it is the historical capital of the Azores and home of the Diocese. For several centuries, Angra was a seaport on the sea routes between America and Europe. An important port on the "Carreira das Índias" scale, reflecting its historical past in its beautiful churches, its monasteries, its fortresses and Renaissance houses, with its graceful and flowery cast-iron balconies. A city with excellent commerce, restaurants and bathing areas, it is the scene of the biggest profane festivals in the Azores, which take place in June - As Sanjoaninas. With a vast architectural heritage, there are obligatory visits such as "Sé Catedral" (of Filipino architecture, built over a Gothic church of the XV century), "Palácio dos Capitães Generais" (former Jesuit college, where in the XVIII century was adapted as residence of the General Captains), "Palácio Bettencourt", "Igreja do Colégio" (where Paulo da Gama, brother of the great Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama who discovered the sea route to India, is buried), the majestic eighteenth-century "Igreja da Misericórdia", "Convento de São Francisco" (where Angra do Heroísmo Museum is), the 17th century Convent of San Gonçalo, "Pátio da Alfândega", the "Praça Velha", "Paços do Concelho" (City Hall), "Teatro Angrense", "Alto da Memória", "Jardim Duque de Bragança", "Castelo de São João Baptista" in Monte Brasil (Fortress built during the Spanish occupation) and "Castelinho de São Sebastião", among so many other points of interest in the city center due to the great influence of the nobility and rich merchants that lived in this beautiful city and towns nearby.

Praia da Vitória

Praia da Vitória, the headquarters of the county with the same name, is a well-designed city, very pleasant, surrounded by its beautiful beaches and marina, decorated by its churches from XV and XVI centuries and by the Town Hall. Stage of several historical events in defense of the sovereignty of the Portuguese Crown and cradle of illustrious personalities. Very enjoyable, especially in the summer. Highlights are the big festivities in the first week of August that bring thousands of visitors to Praia da Vitória who are engulfed in such animation. It has several bars, cafes, good restaurants and craft shops. In the county there are many churches of historical interest, fortifications, viewpoints, ethnographic museums and the "Impérios", which are buildings dedicated to the worship of the Holy Spirit.

Landscapes

On Terceira Island you can appreciate landscapes of great beauty, either on the seafront, due to its irregular coastline with its beautiful coves and great swimming areas, or in the interior where you can enjoy the intense greens of the several hills and plain areas of lush and protected vegetation, offering panoramic views of unparalleled beauty. In the heart of the island, you can have a unique experience, visiting its volcanic caves such as the "Algar do Carvão", the only visitable volcano in the world, as well as several beautiful lagoons, "furnas" and pleasant forest parks.

Nature

Rich ecosystem, with great diversity of animals and plants. Let yourself be surrounded by the green of the landscape and the blue of the ocean while enjoying the quiet and the relaxation that the island provides you, with the sea hitting the coast, the singing of the birds and the purity of the fresh environment.

Adventure

Travel down canyons and streams, while hiking, climbing, jumping, rappelling and swimming. There are many remote wilderness settings to discover. Enjoy spectacular views of rock walls and waterfalls and a great connection to natures’ beauty.

Nautical Sports

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Terceira Island has excellent conditions for water sports, such as bodyboarding and windsurfing, given the characteristics of its coast and the weather conditions. Formula Windsurfing World Championship events were held in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Praia da Vitória.

Sailing

In Terceira there are 2 marinas (one in Praia da Vitória and the other in Angra do Heroísmo) with excellent infrastructures, emphasizing the facility for boat trips around the island in sailing boats or other types of boats, where you can relax, enjoying the great beauty of the island's coast, observing cetaceans, diving or simply fishing.

Natural Beaches

Several volcanic eruptions over the centuries have formed amazing bathing areas, surrounded by beautiful volcanic rocks, where stands out in Praia area the natural pools of Biscoitos, Porto Martins, "Escaleiras" in Vila Nova and Quatro Ribeiras. In Angra area you can find "Os Salgueiros", Salga, Refugo, Silveira, Negrito and Cinco Ribeiras.

Sand Beaches

In Terceira you can enjoy beautiful beaches of volcanic sand, easy to reach, with great temperature, located in Praia da Vitória (Prainha, Praia Grande and Riviera Beach) and in Angra do Heroísmo (Prainha).

Sanjoaninas

Sanjoaninas take place in June, in the city of Angra do Heroísmo, and are recognized as a remarkable event at international level and have become over time the most significant manifestation of the festivities of the archipelago. The program of these festivities includes a number of parades, sports activities, children's entertainment, varied exhibitions, bullfighting and music concerts across several stages throughout the city, with the presence of great local, national and international names. The highlight of these days is undoubtedly the Noite de Marchas de São João (night of St. John's marches) on June 23, figuring as a night full of dance, music and color.

Festas da Praia

Festas da Praia, at Praia da Vitória, take place every year during the first week of August, and count on its program with various parades, such as the Cortejo de Abertura (opening parade), children's entertainment parade, philharmonic parades and international folklore parade. It also has many sports and musical events and an important gastronomic festival with typical flavors from different regions. One of the great attractions is the Blue Music Resort, a stage of several concerts and DJs.

Music Festivals

Known for releasing important names in the world of music, such as Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme, Terceira Island is also the center of important musical events throughout the year, such as events exclusively dedicated to Electronic Music, Rock or Jazz, but also to festivals with great musical variety like in Sanjoaninas and Festas da Praia.

Bullfight

Island with long tradition in taurine festivities, influenced by the period of Spanish occupation (1580-1640), is reflected in the great accession to the bullfights that take place on the streets throughout the island in the festivities of each parish from May to October. People deeply enjoy the arena bullfights annually with a great poster of local, national and international bullfighters, on horseback, on foot and like back in the times of the crown on the old portuguese way ("à antiga portuguesa").

Walking Trails

On the island there are several marked Walking Trails that you can walk through with an adventurous spirit in areas of rare and pure beauty and that will surely be a unique experience in your visit, such as "Mistérios Negros", "Rocha do Chambre", "Baías da Agualva", "Serreta", "Monte Brasil", among others.

Gastronomy

Terceira has a rich and diverse gastronomy. Highlights to the soup of Espírito Santo, Alcatra, Caldeirada de Peixe, Morcela, Sarapatel, Octopus and Seafood - Lapas, cracas, crabs - prepared according to traditional recipes. You can also taste the great and diverse island cheese and fresh goat cheese that is very appreciated in any meal, taste the Verdelho wine of Biscoitos and delight yourself with the regional sweets like Donas Amélias, Massa Sovada, filhóses, arroz doce, coscorões, confeitos and alfenim.

Culture and Traditions

Very rich Island in historical level, with wide traditions, festivals, gastronomy and arts and crafts. Culturally very diversified due to the great influences since its colonization and important historical periods, making it a permanent and pleasant discovery. With a very welcoming, cheerful people, faithful to its culture, maintaining with great commitment their traditions, which can be reflected in its main annual celebrations like the Carnaval, being this the biggest manifestation of popular theater in Portugal, but also in the "Festas do Espírito Santo", and especially in the summer festivals in all parishes of the island, highlighting Sanjoaninas in June and Festas da Praia and the great Festival of International Folklore (COFIT) in August.

Atlantic Souvenir

Looking for a souvenir to remind you
how great your vacations were?

Find us in

Angra do Heroísmo,
Rua de São João, nº 85

Contacts

295 701 058 / 968 775 452

Schedule

From 9AM to 20PM, everyday!

Learn more

Photo Gallery

Photos by:
Roberto Costa

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Visiting Terceira