Monte Brasil is located on the south coast of Terceira Island, in the parish of Sé – municipality and parish of Angra do Heroísmo – and it is a stunning place that you should, without a doubt, include in your travel itinerary to the island.
Its origin comes from an ancient underwater volcano in the island of Terceira, which with its eruption originated the city of Angra do Heroísmo. The volcano consists of a caldera surrounded by four peaks: Pico das Cruzinhas, Pico do Facho, Pico da Quebrada (where the whale watchman is) and Pico do Zimbreiro. With this, two bays are formed: the bay of Angra, to the East and to the West the bay of Fanal. There are those who believe that the eruption that gave rise to Mount Brazil happened more than 20,000 years ago, a phenomenon that provided the creation of the well-known Peninsula of Mount Brazil that was the result of the accumulation of ashes by direct fall of the material released by the volcano in its eruption. Thus, Terceira Island gained approximately 500 meters in length and 500 meters in width.
Between the end of that century and the beginning of the XVII century, it was almost entirely surrounded by the Spanish, by one of the biggest Atlantic fortifications of that time: the Fortress of São João Batista. It was it that together with the Fort of St. Sebastian defended the city and port of Angra from all attacks by pirates and corsairs who tried to seize the riches that had been brought by the Career Nuns of India. Thus, in Mount Brazil you can still find the Castle of São João Batista, one of the most important and largest Philippine fortresses built in our country in the late 16th century.
Nowadays, Monte Brasil is a Natural Reserve and all its fauna, flora and marine area belongs to the Forest Park of Terceira Island and you can find viewpoints for visitors to enjoy its beauty. In addition, it is also possible to make a pedestrian trail that is duly signalized and approved by the Regional Direction of Tourism. It is a great opportunity to feel closer to nature and enjoy all the good things it brings us.
From its top, it is also possible to see the city, its bay and marina, the Jewish Port, the Ribeirinha, the Ilhéus, and, to the west, from the bay of Fanal to the parish of São Mateus da Calheta. On clean days, it is also possible to see the island of Pico and the island of São Jorge, the West.
