Gardens, Parks and Forests

The history of Terra Nostra Park is connected to the development of the village of Furnas as a thermal spa and summer resort.

This Romantic-style botanical garden was built in the 18th and 19th centuries and is one of the most popular sites on the Island of São Miguel, visited by both locals and foreign visitors who are attracted by the chance to bathe in the geothermal swimming pool, and marvel at the magnificent views and the variety and riches of the exotic vegetation.

The park is divided into two zones: the upper zone, occupied by footpaths through the dense woods, and the lower zone between the Amarela stream and the Serpentina lake, where visitors may wander around footpaths, lawns, pools and fountains. Key features include the thematic gardens of Cycas palm trees, endemic plants, camellias and ferns, and the avenues of palm trees and ginkgos. The main species are oak, black cottonwood, black poplar, Japanese red cedars, araucarias, tulip-trees, camellias, ferns, hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons.

The park also has a thermal pool with brownish iron-rich water at a temperature of around 25°C.