This city is on the south coast of Terceira Island and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to legend, on the island there were two bays separated by the volcano Monte Brasil, but only one was deep enough for anchorage. It was settled by the first visitors to the islands, who called it Angra. The first houses were built on its steep slopes, while the castle of Moinhos was built on the other side of the hill that dominated it, now marked by the obelisk of Alto da Memória.
It was only much later that houses were built down to the bay, now with an orthogonal street plan following Renaissance principles. The layout of the streets encouraged the growth of the port. It became a city due to the important role of the port during the age of discovery.
It is the historical capital of the Azores.
