Terceira - the Violet Island in the Atlantic, Azores, Portugal

And back to Portugal to continue with Nuno's Azores Islands Tour. Without any more delays off we go to the island called Terceira, another one of the nine beautiful islands of this Atlantic Archipelago...

Part of the Azores archipelago the island called Terceira is also known as the “Violet Island”. Terceira was the third (Terceira in Portuguese) island to be found and coincidently it's also the third major island of the archipelago (after São Miguel and Pico). It has an elliptical shape and it's part of the central group of islands, surrounded by São Miguel (to the West) and São Jorge (to the East).


Hangra do Heroísmo is the oldest city in this island, and has the UNESCO heritage of world patrimony. That happened due to the conservation of the old day’s architecture: chapels, palaces, museums and even the powerful walls from the fortress that defended the city from corsair’s attacks.

When visiting this island, start by the old streets from Praia da Vitória and then take a look at the Gothic Church of São Sebastião. Throughout all island you'll be able to see the sunny houses in villages like São Carlos, Fontinha, São Brás and Lajes.


Besides the architecture and the monuments there´s also green lands worthy of a visit, places where you can go for a walk, highlands from where you can see flowered camps, ocean, and blue sky. One special view is the Caldeira of Guilherme Moniz, a volcanic crater 15 kilometers wide, now used to produce dairy products and cattle - a spot very green and beautiful.


The ocean surrounding the island is very rich in fish, a paradise to fishermen; Scuba diving and windsurf are just some of the aquatic sports practiced in this island. To make off for the lack of beaches there are across all coast swimming pools between the rocks where one can take refreshing baths.

As to the best period to visit Terceira Island is goes from May to September. During this period you will see a festival of color and secular traditions. The festivities of Espírito Santo and also the Sanjoaninas take place in almost every villages.


And good festivities always means good food. When you go into Terceira Island do taste the traditional food, exotic flavors like the rump steak (alcatra) and morcela and octopus receipts are mandatory! Oh, and you can’t go without taste he Biscuit wine, revived at the museum ;)

In a few days the tour continues to the São Jorge Island :)