Geography

Located at 27º 10’ west and 37º 43’ north is part of the central group alongside with Graciosa Island, São Jorge, Pico and Faial. Distant 167 Km from São Miguel and 122 KM from Faial, the island is 381,96km2 surface with 29km length and 17,5km width.

Discovery and Settlement

The Settlement started in 1450. It was named Terceira because it was the third island discovered in the Archipelagos, though in the beginning it was known as the Island of Jesus Christ because of its location. Angra was the first city of the archipelagos, and only it became Angra Do Heroísmo in the nineteenth century.

Places to visit

The Cathedral with architectural interest, with icons, paintings, silvers and religious ornaments of the seventeenth century, pieces of jacaranda furniture and oil paintings of the churches’ prelates. It is a vast treasure.

The museum of Angra, located in the ancient convent of São Francisco, has a permanent exhibition on “the knowledge of the Azores, Angra, the Azores and the World”.

Monte Brasil provides you an amazing view above the city of Angra do Heroísmo, its bay and marina.

Porto Judeu is the best place to see “Ilhéu das Cabras”.

Algar do Carvão with 100meters depth is formed by caves, where wonderful stalactites and stalagmites can be seen. The following sites need to be visited with the help of a guide: Gruta das Agulhas, Balcões, Natal, Furnas Água and Cabrito.

Serra do Cume, with 545 m of altitude, provides an amazing view above Praia da Vitória, plain of Lajes and the interior of the island with delimited fields by stone walls and hydrangeas.

Serreta is an area with great forest wealth. The terrace of Peneireiro will provide you with magnificent landscapes.

Pico da Bagacina and Cabrito, formed by lava, are places of cattle breeding.

Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz, with 15km range, is the largest kettle in the archipelago. Lagoa do Negro and Lagoa das Patas can also be visited.

Biscoitos, wine producing site, is divided in ‘curraletos’. Visit the Wine Museum, founded by the Brum’s House, where an important spolium was gathered relating to wine production, such as instruments, pictures and other documents. Biscoitos is also a great swimming place.

The garden ‘Duque da Terceira’ has a wide variety of plants and trees.

The Castle of São João Baptista is an imposing fortress of the sixteenth century.

Alto da Memória is an obelisk placed in the same site where the first castle of Angra was build, remembering the presence of King Peter IV in the island.

Hotels

Hotel do Caracol

Angra Garden  Hotel

Hotel Beira Mar

Restaurants

Quebra Mar

Restaurante Caneta

Snack  Bar Ilha de Bruma