Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal

Get to know Angra do Heroísmo, in Terceira Island, the most monumental and best preserved city in the Azores Archipelago, Portugal

Angra do Heroísmo
© Turismo Azores

Angra do Heroísmo, or simple Angra, is presented as the most monumental and best preserved of the whole Azores Archipelago. This city, capital of the Terceira Island, was completely restored after the 1980 earthquake, to the point of being declared World Heritage by the UNESCO. Angra stands out because of its magnificent historical compound, its marina, its parties and its cultural and conferences offer.

Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
© Turismo Azores

Angra do Heroismo, Azores
© Turismo Azores

The heart of the old town is the Praça Velha Square, where are located the Town Hall or Paços do Concelho (dating from 1886), hosting on its upper roof two interesting halls: the Sessões (Sessions) or the Nobre (Noble, from 1901).

If you go up by the Rua do Galo Street to the Almeida Garret Square, you will pass by the 16th century Solar dos Remédios House, and the 18th century Igreja da Conceição Church. At the top you will find the House of Culture, with a glazed lantern of American-Spanish type.

By the end of the Rua da Guarita Street, with its beautiful facade, is located the 17th century Senhora da Conceição Convent. Back to the Praça Velha Square, next to the Angra Hotel, is located the Duque da Terceira Botanic Park, full of ponds, fountains, palm trees, magnolia trees and flowered gardens.

The Angra do Heroísmo Museum is hosted in the São Francisco Convent since 1969, exhibiting a great collection dedicated to the discovery of the Azores, the importance of Angra in the archipelago, the period of the general captaincy to the Liberalism and the Contemporary Age.

Beside the main door of the park you will find a square where the Igreja do Colégio Church is located and the Capitães Generais Palace, preceded by a bronze statue of the Blessed João Baptista Machado, and the Camões bust.

The monumental Sé or Salvador Cathedral, (1568-1618) was well-restored after the 1980 earthquake and the 1984 fire. It is worthy to visit it calmly, since it has a beautiful facade and an interesting interior exhibiting where it shows sacred art treasures.

The bay of the city was defended by the 1570 São Sebastião Castle and the Monte Brasil Fortress. Nowadays, the castle is part of the magnificent network of Pousadas de Portugal Inns.

The Pipas Port counts with a strengthened marina. In front of the port, in the Praça de Alfândega Square, raises the 18th century pleasing Igreja da Misericórdia Church. Other interesting places of this commercial Baixa are: the Machado Fagundes Volcano-Speleological Museum, and the 17th-18th century Bettencourt Palace, occupied by the public library and the files, and the former bishopric.

Going up by the Rua da Sé Street you will arrive to Alto das Corvas, a quiet wooded space accompanied by a 1846 fountain. From here you can keep going by the Rua Boavista Street to arrive to the Cultural and Conference Centre, an amphitheatre complex with 990 seats, cinema, library, exhibitions room and others.

On the other side of Campo das Corvas is located a neighbourhood with narrow streets where raises the monumental São Gonçao Convent, and in front of it is located the municipal bowling alley.

From here and heading to the North you will find the Largo de Boa Nova Square with its ditch fountain, from which you can access the Relvão Municipal Park.

Don’t miss the chance to visit the São João Baptista Castle, with the main square, the Santa Catalina Chapel and the São João Baptista Church, since it is one of the must-visit places in Angra.

Another wonderful place is the Brasil Hill, to where you can arrive by car or by means of a hiking route. From it you will have wonderful views over the port and the Iléus das Cabras Islet.

A good date to visit Angra is during the Sanjoaninas Festivities, extended for 10 days around the 24th July and celebrated since the 16th century.

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Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal

Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal

Get to know Angra do Heroísmo, in Terceira Island, the most monumental and best preserved city in the Azores Archipelago, Portugal

Terceira Island

What to see:

Azores:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

In collaboration with: