Angra do Heroismo


	*Angra do Heroismo*

The nine islands of the Azores are located 1,000 miles west of Portugal and 2,500 miles east of America. The island of Terceira, home island of Angra do Heroismo, is the second most populated of the nine with a population of approximately 36,000 people. The city Angra has a population of approximately 21,300 .

Angra was settled beginning in 1450, quickly becoming an important commercial trading center due to its natural harbor. The city was granted city status in 1534 and served as a port of call for ships sailing to and from the Americas, Africa and India.

Angra is located on the southern edge of Terceira Island and is the home of important military and religious installations and was once the capital city of the Azores. Due to its architectural and cultural importance the city was classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

Terceira is known as the “Island of Never-Ending Festivals”, and during the summer months you are almost guaranteed to be able to see one. Popular summer events are bullfights in the Azorean style and bull-running in the streets where, though the bulls are seldom injured, the local young men don’t always get off lightly.

Angra do Heroismo became a Sister City to Gilroy on January 20, 2004.


From Angra do Heroismo, this years delegate was LETICIA VIERIA, President ot the 2010 Sanjoanina Festival in Angra. For pictures of Leticia at this year’s Garlic Festival and Sister Cities activities, follow the link below.

	Angra do Heroismo Delegate to Garlic Festival 2009



IIn January 2010 representatives from Angra and their Sanjoaninas Festival stopped in Gilroy for a short visit during their busy trip throughout California. On January 22 Gilroy Sister Cities hosted a welcome reception for the representatives. For pictures of the reception , follow the link below.

		SanjoaninasVisitJan2010