Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo, or simply Angra, is a city and municipality on Terceira Island in Portugal's Azores archipelago (Açores). The town centre is a well-preserved 
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 400-year-old San Sebastião and San João Baptista fortifications are unique examples of military architecture.
It is one of the three capital cities of the Azores, along with Ponta Delgada and Horta.
Understand
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Founded in 1478, Angra do Heroísmo (UHN-gruh doo ee-roo-EEZH-moo, /ˈɐ̃.gɾɐ du i.ɾu.ˈiʒ.mu/) was historically the most important city in the Azores, as seat of the Bishop of the Azores, government entities, and having served as the capital city of Portugal during the Liberal Wars. The population in 2021 was 34,000. It was classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1983.
The Municipality of Angra takes up about 60% of the island of Terceira. The rest is Praia da Vitória.
Get in
[edit]- 1 Lajes Airport (TER IATA). Lajes Airport received inter-island flights within the Azores, and flights from mainland Portugal and North America.
Get around
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Map of Angra do Heroísmo
- Minibus | Circuito Urbano de Angra do Heroísmo (Angra do Heroísmo Urban Circuit). Minibus serving the urban centre and environs. There are two routes: 147–Inter-Parques (M–F 07:45–18:30, every 15 min; Sa 08:30–12:00, every 30 minutes) and 148–Corpo Santo (M–F 07:50–17:50, hourly). On-board fare: €0.30, 11 pre-paid tickets: €3.00, monthly pass: €5.00.
See
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The "Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores" was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
- 1 Angra do Heroísmo City Hall. The Angra do Heroísmo City Hall (Paços do Concelho de Angra do Heroísmo) is a medieval structure constructed to house the municipal council/authority, situated in the civil parish of Sé.
- 2 Castle of Moinhos. The Castle of Moinhos, officially known as the Castle of São Cristóvão, or Castle/Fort of São Luís is the name of the ruins of 16th-century fortification in city of Angra. It is primarily known as the Castle of Moinhos, owing to the popular name given to the site for the number of mills that dotted the hilltop, on which the castle was erected.
- 3 Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo. The Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo (Sé Catedral de Angra do Heroísmo) is a Portuguese 16th-century cathedral located in the civil parish of Sé.
- 4 Convent of São Francisco. The Convent of São Francisco is a Baroque-era convent and church in the historical centre of the city. Better recognizable for the large Church of Our Lady of the Guide (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Guia), is its locally known as the Igreja do Convento de São Francisco (Church of the Convent of São Francisco), one of the largest of Christian temples in the Azores, and former seat of the Franciscan Province of São João Evangelista, during the Age of Discovery.
- 5 Duke of Terceira Garden. Duke of Terceira Garden (Jardim Duque da Terceira) is a manicured garden in the historical centre of Angra. One of the classic gardens emblematic of the Romantic period of Portuguese history, it is part of the municipal gardens of the city of Angra (located within the civil parish of Nossa Senhora da Conceição.
- 6 Episcopal Palace. The Episcopal Palace (Paço Episcopal) is a 16th-century former-religious building situated in the civil parish of Sé.
- 7 Fortress of São João Baptista. The Fortress of São João Baptista (Forte de São João Baptista), also known as the Fort of São Filipe or Fort of Monte Brasil is a historic fortress and defensive emplacement, located in the civil parish of Sé.
- 8 Monte Brasil. Monte Brasil is the remnants of a tuff volcano (and peninsula) connecting the south coast of Terceira in the central Azores, overlooking the city. Monte Brasil is flanked by two bays: the Bay of Angra (named for the city) to its east, and the Bay of Fanal to its west, and was used as a defensive point during the history of Angra, resulting in the construction of various forts and redoubts, including the Fortress of São João Baptista overlooking the city.
- 9 Nature Park of Terceira. The Nature Park of Terceira (Parque Natural de Terceira, or simply the Terceira Nature Park (PNTER) developed from the intention of better managing the protected areas of the island of Terceira, and was instituted by the "Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar" (Regional Secretariate for the Environment and Oceans), of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores. It includes an area of approximately 22% of the island classified under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Nature Reserve designation.
- 10 Santa Catarina Palace. Manor of Santa Catarina (Solar de Santa Catarina/Paço Episcopal de Angra do Heroísmo) is a former-manorhouse in the civil parish of São Pedro. For many years it served as the family seat of the descendants of the Corte-Real, before becoming the official residence of the Bishop of Angra do Heroísmo.
Do
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[edit]- 6 Restaurante Beira Mar, Rua do Porto 46, São Mateus da Calheta, ☏ +351 295 642 392. Tu–Su 12:00–22:00, closed W. Seafood restaurant on the waterfront.
- 7 Captain's Table d'Angra, Rua da Rocha 14, ☏ +351 295 216 358, captain's.table.dangra@gmail.com. 12:00–14:00 & 10:00–20:00 daily. Seafood restaurant with vegetarian and vegan options. €9–€24 (March 2021).
- 8 Taberna Roberto, EN3-1A 3, Grota do Medo 1, ☏ +351 966 431 126. Tu–Su 09:00–14:00, closed M. Wood-burning ovens and a huge wine selection. €12–€29 (March 2021).
Splurge
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[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Cruzeiro, Rua Nova 1, ☏ +351 295 249 360, geral@hotelcruzeiro.com. Check-in: 14:00–00:00, check-out: 00:00–12:00. Four-star, 59-rom hotel. It offers room service, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and free parking. €53–€99.
- 2 Terceira Mar Hotel, Portões de São Pedro 1, ☏ +351 295 402 280, tmh@bhc.pt. Check-in: 15:00–00:00, check-out: 07:00–12:00. Four-star, 130-room hotel with ocean view. The property features a garden and a salt water infinity pool. €59–€121.