Terceira Island, Azores

Have fun discovering Terceira Island, one of the most lively ones of the Azores Archipelago, Portugal

Terceira Island
© Turismo Azores

The Terceira Island, with its 400.3 square kilometres, is one of the most lively and festive islands of the Azores Archipelago. Its place name was given to it because it was the third island to be discovered (previously was known as Jesus Christ Island)

Angra do Heroismo, Terceira Island
© Turismo Azores

Terceira Island, Portugal
© Turismo Azores

Silveira, Terceira Island
© Veraçor

The island has the most picturesque attractive impêrios (groups of religees), with 69 chapels. From May to October are celebrated the “touradas á corda” almost daily in different villages; and its inhabitants (around 56,000) give life to it walking by the lively streets of Praia da Vitória and Angra do Heroísmo, both cities with lots of terraces and pedestrian promenades.

Angra do Heroísmo, the island’s chapel, was restored with caress after being seriously damaged on the 1980 earthquake. Evidence of this is that just four years after the fateful earthquake, the island was declared Heritage of Humanity.

Another of the must-visit places in Terceira is the cavern of Algar do Carvão, hidden on the inside of one of the biggest and oldest volcanoes in the island. The main attractions in the coastal line are: São Mateus da Calheta, Museu do Vinho (Wine Museum), natural pools (specially the Biscoitos ones), Quatro Ribeiras Bay, and beaches of Quatro Ribeiras.

To discover the island at least you’ll need three days, one of them to visit its littoral, another one to dedicate it completely to the capital city, and a third one to discover its interior.

A good advice to go all over it is departing from Angra towards the west, through the seaside resort of Silveira, where you will find some of the best hotels in the island. Shortly after your will pass through São Pedro, a traditional residential area where you will find different Baroque and Nineteenth-century quintas. Afterwards it is recommendable to keep going towards Quinta do Martelo, where you will find the best Terceira’s folkloric and gastronomic samples.

5 kilometres far from Angra is located the fishing port of São Mateus da Calheta; and on the other side the Ponta de São Mateus in Porto Negrito, recalling the history of the whaling industry and the military defense of the Azores.

Afterwards it is recommendable to visit the parishes of Santa Bárbara and Doze Ribeiras, both hardly damaged on the 1980 earthquake. It is also worthy to visit Serreta, which had better luck, and hosts a picturesque church with a flashy facade and the Santa Bárbara Crater, with its 1,021 metres height.

Later, to visit the Southern coast of the island, you can keep going towards Biscoitos, a gorgeous city hosting the Museu do Vinho (Wine Museum), the cooperative winery, a beautiful vineyard landscape, and one of the most suggestive natural pools of the archipelago.

Following the Quarto Ribeiras Bay by the EN 1-1ª you will arrive to Lajes, where are placed the military airports of the NATO and civil ones, and the Praia da Vitória Beach, a city with beautiful promenades spreading out from the commercial port to the Ponta da Má Merenda Spike.

In Praia da Vitória is recommendable to leave the main road and keep going through the littoral, which in this part of the island is full of little bays splashed with houses and bungalows, especially in Porto Martíns.

After going all over this area of the littoral, you might go back to the EN 1-1ª to discover São Sebastião and its magnificent church. Afterwards, it is necessary to keep going along the littoral until you reach Porto Judeu, which surprises with the beautiful Ilhéus das Cabras Islet.

After going all over Feteiras you will be back to Angra do Heroísmo, where it is recommendable to spend a whole day enjoying with peace its beautiful historical complex.

You can dedicate the third day to discover the interior of the island, and visit the great cavern of Algar do Carvão, an amazing natural monument where you can be given a lecture of volcanism and geology; and the nearby Furnas do Enxofre Grottoes, which are various geysers.

Why "Portugal Travel"?

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

Terceira Island, Azores

Have fun discovering Terceira Island, one of the most lively ones of the Azores Archipelago, Portugal

Terceira Island

What to see:

Azores:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

In collaboration with: