Island of Terceira
From the time of the spice trade, the island inherited incomparable habits and flavours; from the struggles and invasions, heroism and victory; from the volcanoes, the most beautiful and green meadows, the most amazing caves.
Itinerary 1 – Angra do Heroísmo (Center)
1. In the town of Angra, in the parish of Conceição, get to know the tradition of building wood miniatures (mostly concerning bull-fighting, but also useful pieces) by artisan Paulo Brasil. (Map)
2. Continue to walk through Angra, stopping now at the store “Benditos Pormenores” by Madalena Costa: her creative combination of recyclable materials, such as coffee capsules or fish scales, with semi-precious stones results in totally original fashion jewellery. (Map)
3. Sílvia Teixeira has inimitable artistry, as a fashion designer and artisan, not only in the creation and production of equestrian gear, but also for various events and projects, such as Moda no Museu, the Sanjoaninas marches, the Bruma Project, theatre plays and creative residences of the Regional Crafts Centre; her work has national and international projection. (Map)
4. Time for a cup of coffee with cake—Ana Costa and her bakery/patisserie offer the chance of trying one of the local pastries, made with skill and high quality: D. Amélia, careto, ladrilho or cornucopia are traditional in Terceira. (Map)
5. Keep walking and visit “Açorbordados” (certified Azorean Handcrafts shop) where the traditional Terceira handmade embroidery has been taking place since 1945: white thread on white linen to create doilies, tablecloths, centrepieces or bed linen. (Map)
6. A few meters ahead, artisan Aldevina Serpa embodies the magic of patchwork with imagination and lots of colour, in addition to embroidery and lace: tablecloths, blankets, purses, home decor, to mention some of the pieces. (Map)
7. At the Duque de Bragança Market, in the shop called “Os Meus Trapos”, by Adelina Aguiar, you can find excellent patchwork creations, or “the crazy work”, as it is known in Terceira. (Map)
8. End your walking tour of Angra by visiting the atelier and shop of “João Pereira & Filhos, Lda”—where the expertise and beauty of the embroidery, made with satin stitches and white or beige thread, have earned this brand certification as Handicraft of the Azores; in 2020, João Pereira won the CoMTradição Award for a lifelong dedication to white embroidery and an exemplary career as a craftsman. (Map)
Itinerary 2 – Angra do Heroísmo : Feteira to Santa Bárbara
1. To get to know a little more about the island’s habits and the parishes of the municipality of Angra, start with Feteira and the wooden miniatures created by Manuel Azevedo: agriculture, bullfighting, grape harvest or gastronomy are very well represented here. (Map)
2. Still at Feteira, artisans Paulo and Lúcia Pereira create wooden miniatures representative of bullfighting, ethnographic moments, and pieces for children’s games, from the tentadero to the doll’s house, including the traditional carts. (Map)
3. As a last stop in this parish, visit “Arte e Ponto”, the atelier of embroiderer Mercês Sampaio, where pieces such as chokers, lapel pins and a multitude of decorative pieces are created with the greatest detail and the certified quality granted by the Azorean Handicrafts brand. (Map)
4. Back to the centre of Angra, the “Olaria São Bento” by Ricardo Simas is the only one on the island to preserve the traditional and typical Terceira pieces using the red, white or black clay of Santa Maria—such as the alcatra bowl, water carriers, water jugs; this is a certified brand of the Artesanato dos Açores [Azorean Handcrafts]. (Map)
5. A 15-minute drive is all it takes to get to know “Azulart” and the work of Maria Aurélia Rocha, the only artisan who stills gets inspiration from the traditional models and motifs of Terceira’s pottery (as well as themes related to the cult of the Holy Spirit), shaping and hand-painting beautiful everyday pieces. (Map)
6. At the end of this tour, time for music: António Mota, in Santa Bárbara, builds (following in the footsteps of his grandfather) stringed musical instruments, mainly the viola da terra, whose unmistakable sound here echoes every day. (Map)
Itinerary 3 – Praia da Vitória
1. In the municipality of Praia da Vitória, the “Ramo Grande do Cabo da Praia Handcrafts Cooperative” develops several traditional arts, as weaving, embroidering and sewing: from the imposing costumes used during popular festivals, to the Holy Spirit, including pieces for daily life. (Map)
2. Still at Cabo da Praia, discover the traditions of linen and wool through the work of weaver Lúcia Freitas, whose experience includes both more typical pieces, such as rugs or folk clothing, as well as more modern pieces, such as bags, table sets or blankets. (Map)
3. At the Praia Municipal Market, the “Terceira Arte Handcrafts Cooperative” creates and sells works in fish scales, patchwork and weaving, giving colour and life to fashion jewellery, clothing or decorative pieces. (Map)
4. Finish this tour at the workshop of Narciso Lopes, in the parish of Quatro Ribeiras, who works as a joiner and carpenter with the mastery of over 40 years of experience; in addition to the manufacture of furniture and miniatures, this artisan restores and builds to order. (Map)