| ANGRA DO HEROISMO |
Nestling midway along Terceira Island’s southern shoreline, the charming city of Angra do Heroísmo is one of the jewels in the Azores’ crown.
Airy and cosmopolitan, it was deservedly declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 in recognition of the strategic role the mid-Atlantic port has played over the centuries. It was also the first settlement in the Azores to be raised to the status of a city, having received its charter in 1534.
Capital of the Azores until 1832, when central administration was transferred to Ponta Delgada, Queen Maria II bestowed the name Heroísmo upon the town for the resistance it offered the troops of King Miguel in 1829.
What to see. Dominating the cityscape, Angra’s 16th century Sé cathedral features an interesting interior of exotic carved wood, engraved silver and rare treasures.
Close to the town’s main park (Jardim Municipal) lies the 17th century Igreja do Colégio, a Jesuit church whose lavish decorations include a fine display of 17th century Dutch tiles.
Housed in a former convent, the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo has an unusual collection of 15th to 20th century weaponry, religious paintings and sculpture.
Overlooking the town on the western side of the bay, the 17th century fortress of São João Baptista was built during Spain’s occupation of Portugal and contains the Governor’s palace.
Nearby. In the centre of the island, a short drive north of Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira’s volcanic origins can be seen in the form of a 3-kilometre-wide crater (the largest in the Azores) called the Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz. Also worth seeing nearby are the Algar do Carvão (an enormous subterranean cave) and the hot steaming geysers of Furnas do Enxofre. |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
