Terra Nostra Garden

Terra Nostra Garden

Furnas / Sao Miguel

This huge park was founded in 1775 by the American consul Thomas Hicking. He had his summer residence there and started mainly with trees from his native North America. The successors, the Visconts of Praia and then the Bensaude family, enlarged the area from 2 ha to 12.5 ha today.

In 1934-39, under Vasco Bensaude, the park was completely renovated and the hot spring composed in a large pool. Many new plant species were added.

In 1990, David Sayers and Richard Green were commissioned to determine the approximately 2 500 trees and set 3 000 new trees and shrubs.

There are several species habitats, such as cyclas, bromeliads, ferns, camellias, azaleas … and next to the glasshouses a large orchid collection. Watercourses and ponds blend into the landscape, and somewhere you suddenly find yourself in front of a zoo of overgrown stone animals.

In this area you can easily spend a day and always discover new things. And of course bathing in the thermal water!

 

 

 

Camellias

 

 

 

Orchids

 

 

Bromeliads

 

 

Cyclas