Angra do Heroismo, usually only referred to as Angra, is a beautiful city on Terceira Island in Portugal. The city was founded in 1478, and right from the start, it has been historically one of the most important cities in the Azores. The city was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.
Owing to its mid-Atlantic location, Angra looks like few other European cities, and the many historical fortifications around the town are proof of just important Angra was in the trade and conquest of Europe from the 15th century onwards. The best way to explore this historic city is to rent a car from one of the many car hire companies in the city. From Avis to Europcar, you will find a whole range of car hire companies in Angra. You can easily compare car hire prices online here, Autoportugal.co.uk, or at your place of stay. Many hotels also offer their in-house rental cars, and you can ask them to do a car hire comparison and select a cheap car hire for the duration of your stay. Though, if money is not an issue and you don’t care about the car shipping cost, then ship your car and drive it on this adventure.
Here are the things to do in Angra do Heroismo as you explore the city in your car rental.
1. Visit the Palácio dos Capitães-Generais
Constructed by the Jesuits during the end of the 16th century, this vast building was the seat of Angra’s first unified government following the expulsion of the Jesuit order in the 1700s. In the years that followed, this historic building became the royal palace for Peter IV and Carlos I of Portugal. Today, the complex serves as the official residence of the President of the Regional Government of the municipality of Terceira.
Taking a personal guided tour will help you understand the region’s history and the role this monumental building played in shaping that history.
2. Take in the Town’s history at the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo
This has been the main museum of Angra since the 1960s. It has been located inside the Convento de Sao Francisco, which dated back to the 17th century, and there is a church and cloister also situated on the premises that are equally impressive.
The museum houses a big and diverse collection focused on Angra’s early settlement, folk traditions, religious practices, military history, and trade. You can see uniforms, weapons, coins, toys, horse-drawn carriages, paintings, sculptures, and much more on display at this museum.
3. Take in the Eruption of the Guilherme Moniz Volcano at Monte Brasil
Towards the south of Angra lies the remnants of the massive cone that was created after the eruption of the Guilherme Moniz Volcano. This is located at the end of an isthmus that is protected by the Church and Fort of Sao Joao Baptista. You will need to drive your rental car to reach the top in a couple of minutes, though many people decide to walk to the top.
The stunning panoramas from the top make the climb well worth the effort. You can see various fortifications of the town, deer grazing, juniper, boxwood, and heather vegetation, and the entire town of Angra lying in front of you from the top of Monte Brasil.
There are so many things to do and see in Angra that the best thing to do will be to park your rental car at the center of the town and explore the town on foot, a little bit at a time.
