Duke of Terceira Garden

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Açores > Angra do Heroísmo > Angra do Heroísmo > Sé

Location

Situated in the heart of the city of Angra do Heroísmo, the Duque da Terceira Garden extends up a hill from the central area of the Sé Cathedral. Its position allows for easy access from the historic center, ascending in terraces towards the highest point, from where one can enjoy a vast perspective over the urban fabric and the bay.

History and Evolution

The history of this garden begins in the 19th century, occupying lands that belonged to old religious institutions, such as the Jesuit College and the Convent of São Francisco, as well as private backyards. The idea of creating a public space for leisure and plant acclimatization took shape, leading to the acquisition of these lands by the City Council. The garden was inaugurated in phases, starting from 1882, and received its current name in 1888, in honor of António José de Sousa Manuel de Meneses Severim de Noronha, the first Duke of Terceira, an important figure in Portuguese liberal history.

Environments and Landscape Design

The garden features different environments resulting from its evolution and the terrain's topography. The lower part, closer to the main entrance, displays a classical style, with geometric flowerbeds, symmetrical lawns, and topiary elements. As one ascends through paths designed with basalt stone, the garden transforms, taking on a more romantic and informal character in the upper areas, with winding avenues and denser vegetation, such as a woodland that evokes the English style.

The Botanical Collection

One of the great attractions of the Duque da Terceira Garden is its rich diversity of plants. It functions almost like an open-air greenhouse, hosting a vast collection of botanical species from various parts of the world, including tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. It is possible to observe large, centenary trees, such as imposing araucarias, metrosideros, and a unique endemic dragon tree. Most of the plants are properly identified, making the visit also an educational experience.

Water Features and Ornamentation

Dotting the different levels of the garden are various elements that add beauty and tranquility to the space. Small ponds with fish, decorative fountains, and waterfalls create refreshing environments. Highlights include the tank popularly known as "Babão" (Drooler), due to the way the water flows, and the historic "Tanque do Preto" (Black Man's Tank), an old irrigation tank from the Franciscan enclosure, adorned with a peculiar sculpture. Eighteenth-century tile panels are also found, depicting biblical scenes with details of rural life from that era, and a bandstand that once hosted concerts.

The Path to Alto da Memória

One of the garden's striking features is the wide and landscaped staircase that ascends the hillside. Known as Passagem Silva Sarmento (Silva Sarmento Passage), this connection allows one to traverse the garden upwards, flanked by an avenue of plane trees that offer shade. The path culminates at the highest point, next to the Alto da Memória obelisk, where the effort of the climb is rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view over the city of Angra do Heroísmo and its bay.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt