The last island on our trip was Terceira. Settled in the 15th century, it was initially called the Island of Jesus Cristo.
Compared to the other three islands, Terceira’s capital, Angra do Heroísmo, has the charm of a true European city: historic buildings, vibrant squares, narrow streets, and that city vibe found only in Europe. But because the city is smaller than those on the mainland, the beauty and colors feel more concentrated.
We arrived on Terceira by a tiny plane, catching a glimpse of Pico’s peak from above on the way.
We had two days to explore the island. For the first day, we rented a car to drive around and check the island’s natural beauty. The second day was set aside for exploring Angra do Heroísmo, the historic heart of Terceira.
First, we checked into our hotel, Pousada Angra, located within a 16th-century fortress known as Saint Sebastian’s. The modern hotel offers ocean views and is surrounded by the historic walls of the former fortress.
The plan for the day was simple: drive around the island, stop at various viewpoints for photos, and visit Algar do Carvão, the famous lava tunnels.
As we hit the road our first stop was the natural pool at Refugo. Unlike some of the more rugged pools we had seen before, this one felt more maintained. It had convenient human-made entrances into the water and seemed well protected from the ocean’s force. However, with the water being quite chilly, there wasn’t a single swimmer in sight.
Our second stop was the viewpoint at Forta de Greta. There’s a panel explaining how this spot was used for a landing that helped reconquer the island from the Spanish. As I stood there, gazing at the landscape and reading about the past, I couldn’t help but think how people come and go, generations change, but rocks that witnessed so much human drama through the ages stay still.
Next, we drove through Praia de Vitória, a charming little town that, while not large, is full of character. We took some time to stroll around, stretching our legs and enjoying the picturesque streets.
The pavement designs are distinctive enough that you can immediately guess which country you’re in.
We spotted colorful little Holy Spirit chapel. These chapels spread all over the island and its just one of the things that make Terceira Island so different, as you won’t find them on any other island!
We also came across a very old church, which, according to the sign, was founded in 1456.
And another colorful church.
When it was time to move on, we got back to the car and continued our route.
We didn’t go too far before stopping at the viewpoint, Miradouro do Alagoa. The ocean here was a bright blue, and the coastline featured impressive formations looked like basalt columns. Although there was a hiking path available, we chose to move on to our next destination.
Next, we passed through the town of Biscoitos. This area is well-known wine-growing region where the famous Verdelho wine of the Azores is produced. Now Im wondering if this region also gave a name to famous cookies.
We decided to stop by the Museum of Wine, located on the main road. It’s a neat little place, only open from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The owner gave us a brief tour and was happy to answer our questions. The visit was mostly self-guided and free. We explored rooms showcasing the old methods of winemaking, looked at tools used in the process. Outside, we found various presses and equipment that was used in the past to produce wines.
What stands out to me most from the museum is an old photo of a woman harvesting grapes while wearing a necklace. It really captures a classy moment in time!
We left the museum and headed to our last destination of the day: Algar do Carvão.
The road became increasingly scenic as we traveled through alleys lined with various trees, creating beautiful tunnels.
Algar do Carvão is an ancient lava tube and volcanic chimney formed approximately 3,200 years ago. The cavern is impressive, especially the opening that leads to the surface. The descent includes about 330 steps and takes around 20 minutes to complete. Walking through is easy, stairs throughout. Im glad I wore rain jacket since water were dripping from the ceiling.
The ticket also grants access to Gruta do Natal, where we walked though long corridors adorned with different shapes and colors on the walls, floor, and ceiling.
It was fascinating to trace the path of the lava, seeing how it forced its way through the rocks, melting everything in its path. However, I’ve heard there are only three accessible lava tubes in the world and having visited another in Iceland, I couldn’t help but compare. The Icelandic one was undeniably more impressive, both in scale and impact.
