Palácio de Bettencourt

This splendid example of Baroque architecture of the early 18th century belonged to the important Bettencourt dynasty and has a magnificent carved stone façade adorned with – among many other decorative details - the family’s coat-of-arms. In its interior feature, besides a remarkable staircase with a series of glazed tiles panels depicting scenes of the town’s history, arched ceilings, panelled in local and Brazilian cedar wood. A fine example of Angra’s manor houses, the Palácio de Bettencourt accommodates today the public library and the Archives of Angra do Heroísmo, one of the most important historic archives of Portugal. The archives include a comprehensive collection of historic documents from the 16th century relating to the island’s and Portugal’s history as well as the first newspaper that was made in Portugal.

Map of Terceira

The bay of Angra do Heroísmo