Azores

An Adventure of a lifetime

Terceira

Terceira is one of the five islands that are part of the central group of the Azores and it was the third one being discovered. Raised to the status of city and the seat of the Archbishop of the Azores in 1534, in the 16th century, it became the capital of the kingdom for a brief period, when all the rest of the national territory was under Spanish rule. Its monumental heritage and its original architecture, the preservation of the road network from the 15th and 16th centuries, earned it the classification of World Heritage by UNESCO in 1983.

Traditional architecture with colorful buildings, this the city center of Angra do Heroísmo is full of history and culture which enhances the richness of this well-preserved old town. Of all the Azorean islands, this is perhaps the one that expresses its culture most joyfully and vividly throughout the year, from religious celebrations to traditional festivities, parades or music events.

Surrounded by the São João Baptista Fortress, Monte Brasil, an ancient extinct volcano, is one of the emblematic places of Angra do Heroísmo, where the viewpoint at Pico das Cruzinhas provides the best panoramic view of the city and its bay. Another iconic viewpoint is the one from Serra do Cume that gives you a good perspective to a great plain of the interior of the island with small green fields separated by stone walls and hydrangeas (cerrados), looking like a patchwork blanket, which makes it one of the most famous viewpoints of the Azores.

When visiting Terceira Island you cannot miss the opportunity to know what an extinct volcano looks like from the inside, the Algar do Carvão is the most well-known volcanic cavity in the Azores. It is a remarkable volcanic chimney with a 15 x 20 m crater that culminates 90 m below in a clear water lake.