Have you visited Terceira’s main attractions? Are you looking for new adventures on the island? Read on and find out what to visit so that your next stay will be a totally different experience!
Cabras Islet
The Ilhéu das Cabras islet, located southeast of Angra do Heroísmo, is one of the largest islets in the Azores archipelago and belongs to the Special Protection Area of the Ilhéu das Cabras. This area reaches 29 hectares and is divided into two main areas, the Ilhéu Grande and the Ilhéu Pequeno.
It can be accessed by boat, but the number of visitors is limited. A great variety of bird and marine species can be found here.
Serreta Forest
The Serreta Forest, classified as a Reserva Florestal de Recreio, stands out for its density and diversity of forestation. This impressive biosphere is home not only to a wide variety of plant species, some of them endemic, but also animals.
Also located here is the Serreta Inn, which hosted, in other times, important world figures, highlighting a summit in 1971, which was attended by the president of Portugal, the president of France and the president of the United States of America, Marcelo Caetano, Georges Pompidou and Richard Nixon, respectively.
Caldeira de Santa Bárbara
The Caldeira de Santa Bárbara is not only the highest point of the island of Terceira, with about 1021 meters of altitude, but also an area of Natural Reserve. From here, it is possible to see: a small part of the Natural Park of Terceira and a group of rare and valuable plants, characterized mainly by Junipers endemic to the Azores. It is also possible to obtain a view over a large part of Terceira and some of the other islands of the Central Group.
This place can be explored through a trail (PRC01 TER), which will allow you to venture into several other natural beauties that the island of Terceira has to offer.
São João Baptista Castle
São João Baptista Castle is one of the most important defensive formations in the Azores, as well as one of the oldest. It was commissioned during the reign of D. Sebastião, but only erected during the reign of D. Filipe II of Portugal, during the Philippine Dynasty.
Currently, it is possible to visit the complex and admire the imposing defensive constructions, as well as appreciate the history that marks them.
Senhor Santo Cristo das Misericórdias Church
Built in 1521, this was almost destroyed by a serious fire in the year 1921, being later repaired in 1924. The church again suffered serious damage due to the 1980 earthquake, which reached a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale.
Immediately, the Misericórdia da Praia da Vitória Church stands out for its facade full of complex elements highlighted by its light blue paint. Its interior houses an image, unique in the archipelago, of the Divine Eternal Father.