Parque Terra Nostra

Welcome to Parque Terra Nostra, an extraordinary intersection of botanical science and geological wonder nestled in the volcanic crater of Furnas on Sao Miguel. As we step through these gates, we are entering a landscape that has…

Standing before the Great Thermal Pool, one is immediately struck by its otherworldly color. This is the heart of Terra Nostra, a massive basin fed by natural hot springs that emerge from the earth at temperatures between…

As we move into the specialized garden areas, we encounter one of the park’s most prestigious holdings: the Camellia collection. Boasting over six hundred varieties, this is one of the most significant collections of its kind in…

Our path now leads us to a cooler, more shaded part of the park, where the moisture of the valley is most apparent. This is the Fern Garden, an area that feels like stepping back into a prehistoric era. …

We come now to one of the most striking architectural features of the park’s landscaping: the Ginkgo Biloba Avenue. These trees, often referred to as 'living fossils,' have remained virtually unchanged for over two hundred…

Nearby, we find a collection that highlights the more tropical potential of the Furnas Valley. The Cycad garden features these slow-growing, palm-like plants that date back to the time of the dinosaurs. …

As we explore the outer edges of the park, we encounter the sophisticated hydraulic systems that have sustained this landscape for over two centuries. A series of stone-lined channels, known as 'levadas' in other parts of…

Our journey through Parque Terra Nostra concludes here, but the impressions of this sanctuary of steam and stone will surely linger. We have walked through two hundred years of history, from the initial vision of a lone consul to…