Amazing Azores 7-04-23

Today, we meet in our hotel lobby for a walking tour of Angra do Heroismo —the oldest city of the Azores archipelago on Terceira Island. Daniel, our group leader, introduced us to our local guide, Diogo, who took us under his wing as we started walking down some steps to get closer to the coved beach because of the city terrain. We eventually entered the City Gates, a monument above the marina in the historical district of Angra. In this location, there is a monument statue of Vasco Da Gama, a Portuguese explorer made famous by his initial voyage to India via the Cape of Good Hope (1497–1499) was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. In this square of the City Gates, there was also the Church of Holy Christ of Mercies, which was not open then. It was built on the site of a former 15th-century church dedicated to the Holy Spirit, which was attached to the first hospital in the city. We next meandered our way through the narrow cobbled streets, occasionally looked into the shops, and observed what was for sale. We went into a building that was the Town Hall of Angra.
Going up the stairway to the second floor, we were treated to beautiful stained glass windows glowing a frosty red as I marveled at its artwork. Diogo explained some of the pieces on display, and I looked at the different rooms as the flags drew me into this area. The group eventually entered the Noble Room, where the most beautiful wood, lightning, and famous portraitures were displayed. We next aspired to another extended area of the city that was part of the old courtyards of the Jesuit College. One of the classic gardens emblematic of the Romantic period of Portuguese history, the Duke of Terceira Gardens has many plants that are a blessing to walk through leisurely. We next came to another building called the Palace of the General Captains. The entranceway confronted us, a long boat with mirrors on top that was used to get a better look. I understand the president of the Azores lives there, but it wasn’t on his schedule. Diogo next led us to a plain building on the outside, but boy, was I surprised on the inside. The Angrense Theater was gorgeous with its plush red velvet seats and multi-level seating arrangement. I would have loved to have seen a show there. And what do actors need after a long show? Food, of course, and right around the corner and up some steps was a food market with fresh veggies, fruits, and fish.
On the way back to our hotel, we walked by the Church of the Holy Savior’s Cathedral, which was even visited by Pope John Paul II and has a monument of him. Established in 1534 but with primitive beginnings in 1461, it took several centuries to complete the cathedral. Going where we were first dropped off by our large bus the day before, we rode to Mount Brazil to get a different perspective of the city of Angra do Heroismo. Our first stop on the footpath was the Viewpoint of Peak of the Crosses ( Pico das Cruzinhas ) monument that celebrates the fifth centennial of the discovery of the Azores (1432 – 1932). This viewpoint sheds a beautiful panoramic view of the whole south coast of Terceira Island. I next got acquainted with the statue of Afonso VI. He was the second king of Portugal of the House of Braganza. We next came upon some World War II relics that are somewhat workable as the artillery guns do move up and down and swing side to side. I doubt that you couldn’t hit anything with those guns today. A few steps down the road was a viewpoint of a crater known as a Miradouro Alto da Caldeira. It was lush and green vegetation and lovely blue and white hydrangeas blooming around some trees. We left for lunch at the hotel and had some free time before our early evening lecture from geologist Dr. Rita Martins on “Geothermal Energy.” Dinner was on our own.