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The island of Terceira, located in the central island group of the Archipelago of the Azores, with an area of around 381.96 Km2, is one of the largest and more beautiful islands of the archipelago. Initially called the island of Jesus Cristo, it ended up being called Terceira(or Third) for the fact of it being the third island to be discovered in the Azores, a curious fact that currently is questioned alot.
It's population had it's beginings around 1450 and the first inhabitants were located in the areas of Porto Judeu and Praia da Vitória, this is because it's bays were the safest for unloading and exporting of products, more specifically pastel, a dye plant.
Later it's population ended up stretching to the whole island, through the necessity of increasing the cultivation of land, and feeding the domesticated animals.
The island of Terceira starts to play an important role in navigation, as a port of call for ships that brought riches from America and the Indies. Here is where the would find merchandise and many riches from all over the world, which made i's coastlines prone to constant attacks for many centuries by French, English, and Flemmish Corsairs.
Another historical fact of importance is derived from the crisis over the Portuguese throne in 1580, King Filipe II of Spain for many times tried to conquest the small island of Terceira. Loyal to the Portuguese prefect D. António Prior do Crato, the people of Terceira heroically resisted the Spanish attempts of conquest.
The liberal struggles lead Terceira to play, once again, an important role in the history of Portugal. Supporters of the Liberal Party, the people of Terceira, fought against the constant attempts of domination by the Absolutists which lead to the establishment of the Island Regency and later copnquest of the remaining islands for the liberal cause.
The end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century were characterized by the construction of of a port in Praia da Vitória, by the existence of an important Air Base, by the commercial airport, by it's agricultural development as well as it's industrial development that constantly opens up new perspectives of development on the island.
Festivities
Innumerous festivals take place on Terceira Island, between the months of May and September, the period with the most activity, with permanent festivals and where color and tradition mix together making the festivals of the island of Terceira a meeting place.
The festivals of Saint John, better known by the people of Terceiras as Sanjoaninas, the largest profant festivals of the Azores.
These festivalstake place between June 21st and June 30th and has Saint John as it's patron saint. During these days of great celebrating, the city of Angra do Heroísmo fills up with joy, contageous to all that pass through, to the sound of traditional marchas of São João, of art of it's decorated cars, of the folcloric and ethnographic parades, and many other cultural events that represent, in a peculiar way, lof the well-being and way of life of the people of Terceira.
Here, in similarity to the remaining islands, the summer festivals also take place, where the "TOURADAS À CORDA"(or rope bullfights) are one of the largest popular and traditional festivals of the island of Terceira and only of it's kind in the entire world.
The festive movement of people and not only that, that fill the "arrial" of the festival, makes it a great contrast with the abundant green of nature and many colors that gain life on this very festive day.
The cult of the Divine Holy Ghost is also done here, in an 8-week perior that has it's beginning on Easter Sunday until Trinity Sunday, having, in the case of the island of Terceira, two types of cerimonies: the funções and bodos.
The funções have is based on individual promessesin which, the "imperador" has the crown of the Holy Ghost in his house for a period of one week. Sunday is the day of the Coronation, where, in a procession they go to the church and where the coronation and changing of the "imeperador" takes place.
The bodos that place on Pentecost Sunday and on Trinity Sunday variating a little from village to village.
The festival also takes place by a group of men called "mordomos", that organize on Sunday, next to the Shrine, the distribution of bread and wine along with band music and decorations in "alfenim"(a sugary paste that is hardened into shapes of little dolls and given as candy).
Last but not least important there are the called "Danças de Carnival"(groups if people, alegorically dressed that perform dances and poetic-style comedy), where thousands of people from Terceira completely fill the roughly 30 "sociedades recreativas"(these are buildings owned by the village band that also serve as small theatres) of the island. The "Danças de Carnival" are the largest popular theatrical encounters in the Portuguese language that is performed throughout the world.
It is a phenomenon that originated in Terceira, being an excellent opportunity for us to visit and appreciate and have fun during these festivities. Cuisine
Festivals means food, and because of that Terceiras has it's famous traditional cuisine, that is made up of an enormous variety of dishes, soups and sweets. Such is the example of the delicious and armoatic Alcatra, made up of beef, pig skin, white wine, among other marvellous ingredients that make up this dish... which is then served inside an "alguidar"(a large clay bowl) in which it is cooked and accompanied with massa sovada(a sweet bread).
Served in days of festival, many times accompanied by Holy Ghost Soup(a soup made with cabbage, at times potato, peppermint, beef broth, and other ingredients, served inside a bown with chunks of bread) during the season of the Holy Ghost cult.
Snacks are also included, such as "morcela"(a blood sausage), limpits, perrywinkles, and "verdelho" wine, that the picturesque Wine Museum of the village of Biscoitos remembers during it's long timeline and to the pleasure of taste.
Things to See
Igreja do Santíssimo Salvado da Sá: Erected in 1570 by order of Cradinal Henrique, over the former parochial church built by Alvaro Martins. In it is buried, among others, Pero Anes de Canto. In the style of the Rennaisance and pointed to the north, contrary to the old tradition of churches turning to the head chapel in Jerusalem make this church one of the most beautiful of the Azores. Here you can also find panels of the life of Christ (painted over wood, XVI century) and a tablet with Indo-Portuguese writing on it, precious testimony of the Azores as a pole of cultural encounters.
Castelo de São Filipe/São João Baptista do Monte Brasil: Beginning around 1596 by order of King Filipe II of Spain, it totally surrounds Monte Brasil and controls the bay of Angra do Heroísmo and Fanal. Intended initally for the protection of ships that would dock there and probably the largest fortress built by Spain in all of the world, with roughly 400 artillery pieces, 4km of walls; make this Castle a point of reference to never forget.
Boa Hora Hospital: Perhaps the oldest military hospitals in the world, built expressively by the Spanish for the treatment of it's soldiers on duty in the Castelo de São Filipe do Monte Brasil.
The House of Vitorino Nemésio: It is here that of of the great authors of Portugal was born, Vitorino Nemésio (1901-1978). He was Director of the Literature Department of the University of Lisbon, and member of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon. Many of his works have notariety primarily "Mau Tempo no Canal", first and only novel written by the writer; "Paço do Milhafre" and "Canto de Véspera". Touristic Guide
Here you will find monuments, and beautiful scenery that each year attract thousands of tourists and lead them to discover, and get to know the most beautiful areas that the island of Terceira has to offer.
Terceira is without a doubt one of the islands with great historical and natural landmarks. It was here that the Gallions would arrive full of spices from the Orient and from America full of gold, silver, pepper, cloths, and other riches, that made the city of Angra do Heroísmo a living testimonial, deemed a World Heritage City by UNESCO since 1983.
It is also good to know the endemic fauna(such as Erica Azorica, Laurus Azorica, Picconia Azorica among others), namely those in the volcanic cavities(grottos and caves), where precious geological formations and living endemic organisms existant only to this region of the world hide. The practice of spelunking of a simple tourist visit to some of these areas is not only possible, but also recommended. |
