Lajes

Back on the coastal road, the next point of interest reached is the small town of Lajes, location of Terceira’s airport, one of the three international airports of the archipelago. Originally built around 1940 by the Portuguese, it became soon a British airbase, which was later taken over by the Americans, who still maintain a formation there, after having reduced considerably their military presence in Europe due to severe cuts in their defence budget. Playing a major role in the anti-submarine campaign of the Allies and as base for several air operations against the Axis forces during the Second World War, the Lajes airbase is still part of the NATO defence system today and houses at the same time the headquarters of the Azores Air Command Zone.

Lajes village itself is cut in two halves by the airport, which developed almost naturally into a ‘local’ and an ‘American’ quarter, with the Americans having built up an all-comprising infrastructure, including their own radio station, as well as sports and leisure facilities for their staff and families, leaving their stamp on the whole region, thus making it the most ‘American’ area of all the archipelago.

Lajes’ old centre is located on the western side of the airport where you will also find the most historic sights, such as the three-naved Igreja de São Miguel Arcanjo, which was built in the middle of the 16th century and remodelled several times during its existence, and the 17th-century Casa do Espanhol, still reminding of the time of the Spanish occupation. The Baroque main church boasts some noteworthy gilded woodcarvings on its altars and beautiful glazed-tiles panels. More recently built are the 19th-century Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, the church of Nossa Senhora do Ar, consecrated in 1953, and a prettily adorned ‘império’ from 1916, located in front of the main church.

Map of Terceira

Lajes airport