Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores, Portugal

Set in the mid-Atlantic, the port of Angra, obligatory port-of-call for fleets from Africa and the Indies, is an outstanding example of a creation linked to the maritime world, within the framework of the great explorations.

Baía de Angra do Heroísmo is situated on the mid-Atlantic island of Terceira within the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores. From the 15th century until the advent of steamships in the 19th century, it was an obligatory port of call for the fleets coming from equatorial Africa and from the East and West Indies routes during their voyages to and from Europe.
In 1983, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to the city’s development around its bay and especially its contribution to the discovery of the New World.

The Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroísmo in the Azores is largely authentic in terms of its location and setting, forms and designs, and materials and substances. It was substantially repaired and rebuilt following the violent earthquake in 1980 that significantly damaged the city. Angra’s city centre managed to preserve its 15th and 16th century road networks, as well as its recorded buildings. Use of traditional building materials and techniques is encouraged in rehabilitation projects, without prejudice to technological advances.

Structured in a Renaissance urban design, the city grew in strategic importance and monumental wealth with construction of the fortresses of S. Sebastião and S. Filipe, the Cathedral, or the Parish church. A meeting place for people, tastes and cultures from the Discoveries, Angra do Heroísmo preserves a unique artistic legacy that can be seen in its architecture, sculpture, carved work, porcelain, tile work (azulejos) and furniture, where the exotic and precious nature of materials used emphasize how special this place is.

Striking all the Autonomous Region of Azores on 1 January, the 1980 earthquake killed 61 people and injured over 400, causing severe damage on the islands of Terceira, Graciosa and São Jorge. Measuring 7.2 on the Moment Magnitude Scale, it also shook the islands of Pico and Faial, and resulted from a strike slip fracture, typical of other historical Azorean earthquakes. In spite of the damages of the 1980 earthquake, Angra do Heroísmo still boasts a unique architectural and archaeological heritage.

Angra do Heroísmo has been given the title “Very Noble, Loyal and Always Present” and it emphasizes the importance this metropolis had throughout the history of Portugal and hence of the Azores archipelago. Observed from the Alto da Memória or Monte Brasil Belvedere, the historical centre is a latticed picture of streets, alleys, churches, palaces, manor houses, monuments, squares and gardens, which selfless generations knew how to preserve and maintain up to today, even against the forces of the earthquakes.

On the top of Monte Brasil we find the monument that celebrates the Portuguese discoveries. It is located at the top of Pico das Cruzinhas, in an area of great landscape and historical importance for Terceira. It is part of the Monte Brasil Recreational Forest Reserve, where we can also enjoy one of the best views of the island, surrounded by green, peace and silence.

On the surrounding areas of the viewpoints, there are many spaces to enjoy free time on a picnic, a trail or a running session through Monte Brasil. But we can also find history everywhere, on relics that take us back to earlier times, stories with ancient characters and lives that are part of the island's history. The fortress of São João Batista, provided protection against pirate attacks which were attracted by the treasures brought on the boats that arrived there.

At a time when sea pirates existed and wanted to conquer more land the donatory captain João Vaz Corte Real built the first fortification in ancient Angra, the so-called Castelo dos Moinhos, in around 1474. That's where we find this monument, on the top of Jardim Duque da Terceira, in the historic city center. From its viewpoint we can have a view of the city and its bay, as well as the Forte de São Sebastião, Fortaleza de São João Baptista, Monte Brasil, Serra do Morião and Serra da Ribeirinha.

This garden with classic features occupies about 31 600 m2. It was built on levels connected by steep paths, designed with basalt stones, and it is s the best way to descend from Alto da Memória to the city center. It stands out for the variety of its flora, which includes a collection of exotic plants gathered since the time of the Discoveries, combining tropical and subtropical specimens with others from temperate regions.

On 15 March 1492, in the then village of Angra, the first hospital in the Azores was built. It was intended for the treatment of the poor and destitute of the village, but also of the sick weakened by long sea voyages, so it was close to the port. It is the most imposing building of the Pátio da Alfândega, in the heart of the historic center of the island.

In the city there are many museums, churches, corners full of history and places that allow us to step back in time. There are relics that typify the history of the island, such as Praça Velha, built on the urban ideals of the Renaissance. It is there that the Municipality of Angra is located and where the inhabitants of the city come together in moments of celebration and union.

It is often said that living on an island intensifies faith, by isolation, by distance, by the difficulties people have to face. The current cathedral was built on the former Church of São Salvador, probably dating from 1496; the main altar remains from the original church. Over time, there have been several restorations as a result of damage sustained by adverse weather conditions or calamities, such as the 1980 earthquake or the 1984 fire. In 1991 it received Pope John Paul II, the first Pope to visit the island.

It is the second most inhabited island in the Azores, with more than 55,000 residents. It has 401.9 km2 of surface, is 30.1 km in length and 17.6 km in maximum width. It is the easternmost island of the five that make up the Central Group of the archipelago and the closest island is São Jorge is 37.9 km away. The highest point on the island, at 1021 m, is located in the Serra de Santa Bárbara, at 38 ° 43'47 ’’ north latitude and 27 ° 19’11 ’’ west longitude. It is the mother house of this unique city, whose history we can discover in detail at the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo.