Terceira

Colourful harbours, rolling pasture and a volcanic heart.

In history

The third island to be found, as its name says. Angra do Heroísmo, its harbour city, was for centuries a port of call for the fleets returning from the Indies and the Americas, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage city.

The Holy Spirit festas are at their grandest here, with painted impérios in every parish, and every June brings the Sanjoaninas.

In the game

Harbour

Angra do Heroísmo

Local catch

Red seabream

Speciality to deliver

Alcatra, Dona Amélia cakes

Slow-cooked dish

Alcatra in a clay pot, Lapas grelhadas

Timber

Cut here and sold at the exchange, for captains’ own harbours.

Harbour paint

Pass the quiz at its exchange and the island’s colours paint the walls and trims of your own harbour.

Contendas lighthouse

Ponta das Contendas guards Terceira’s south-east coast, where a Spanish landing was beaten back in 1581.

Serra do Morião loop

Above Angra do Heroísmo to the green slopes of Serra do Morião and round the hills, with the whole bay below you.

Landmarks to find ashore

• Algar do Carvão · A lava tube you can walk down into, lined with silica stalactites.

Festas

• Festas do Espírito Santo · On every island from the Sunday after Easter to Pentecost and Trinity Sunday; Terceira’s impérios carry on through the summer.
• Carnaval · From Saturday to Carnival Tuesday, in February or March: Terceira’s bailinhos play in some thirty halls and Graciosa dances at costumed balls.
• Sanjoaninas · Angra do Heroísmo, for ten days around São João on 24 June, with marchas, arraiais and a closing coroação.

The other islands: São Miguel · Santa Maria · Graciosa · São Jorge · Pico · Faial · Flores · Corvo