Parque Terra Nostra

In the village of Furnas, the Parque Terra Nostra is one of the great gardens of the Azores. Created in the eighteenth century around a thermal spring, it combines a warm bathing pool, rare trees and shrubs, and a celebrated collection of camellias.

A garden of two centuries

The garden was begun in the 1770s by the American consul Thomas Hickling and later developed by the Viscounts of Praia, who brought plants from around the world. Its avenues of camellias, tree ferns and palms, together with the warm pool fed by the volcanic springs, have made it one of the most visited places on São Miguel.

What to see

• The thermal pool, warm and rich in minerals.
• The camellia collection, especially in winter and early spring.
• Rare trees, tree ferns and tropical plants.
• The formal gardens and the lakes of the estate.

Visiting the garden

The garden is in the village of Furnas, in the east of São Miguel. Tickets are required; check the official website for opening hours and conditions before your visit.

Visitor information: parqueterranostra.com.

Image credit: Parque Terra Nostra, Furnas, by Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.