Angra do Heroismo - General Info
Description:
Angra occupies the south coast of the island of Terceira, which is part of the central group of islands in the Azores. It lies about 65 miles from Faial.
Angra is a Unesco World Heritage site, old buildings dating back to 16th century make up the old city with its cobbled streets.
An earthquake in January 1980, did a great deal of damage to Angra do Heroísmo. Thankfully, the inhabitants decided to rebuild in the old style, so the town retains much of its charm. The streets are lined with small shops, fashionable boutiques lying adjacent to hardware stores and seed merchants.
The marina here acts as a port of entry.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
During the day, Monte Brasil is a reference. At night, if approaching from the west, the Monte Brasil lighthouse is only visible from the 057º mark. The marina is located in the eastern part of the bay, protected by a breakwater.
The approach is made on the 342º line formed by the front and rear lighthouses of Angra do Heroísmo. After the jetty light has passed the starboard beam, turn to starboard and head to the marina entrance. The west anchorage next to Baixa da Prainha can become dangerous and uncomfortable with the swell raised by the southerly and easterly winds.
Cruiser Highlights:
Terceira is known for the touradas a corda—bullfights in which bulls, restrained sometimes by a rope around either the neck or the ankle, are let loose in the streets. After one of these touradas, it is not unusual to see men with bandages round their heads, arms in slings and the like; the bulls do not take prisoners.
Next to the marina there is a beach and on the opposite side, the city’s underwater archaeological parks. To dive in these parks is to dive in history: there is an anchor graveyard and the remains of the Lidador shipwreck, a 19th century Portuguese ship.
Position:
38°39’N, 27°12.98’W (marina entrance)
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Related to following destinations: Angra do Heroismo, Azores, Terceira
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Good port with marine services. Can be a bit rolly on the docks depending on how far in you go. There is also an anchorage outside the marina, fairly well protected but exposed to any southerly, especially SE, and usually some swell. We only spent the day at anchor before getting a slip, but there were about a half dozen boats anchored when we arrived in early July.
Very nice and easy dealing with marine staff, left our boat here for 3 months on the hard. Good contact for marine work is NauticAzores (lojanautica@nauticazores.com) they coordinated with the marina for hauling and launching as well as doing a fresh coat of bottom paint while we were hauled out. They also have a pretty good selection of parts and supplies.
Must do’s if you have time on Terceira:
1. go to the local town where there is a “running of the bulls” that particular evening (they move them from town to town). The reason to go is more to observe the way the locals commune around this event than to see the bulls themselves, who are given stimulants and then downers when they are still in their bright red boxes before being released to put on their show.
Terceira has several interesting caves that are worth visiting, donning the requisite hardhats, and exploring on a guided tour.
3. Lastly, driving across the island and enjoying the miles of hydrangeas lining the roads is another not-to-miss experience on Terceira in the spring/summer