Angra do Heroismo, PORTUGAL


	*Angra do Heroismo, Portugal*

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 is the home of Angra do Heroismo and is the second most populated of the nine islands with a population of approximately 36,000 people. The city of 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. Angra 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 was once the capital city of the Azores. Due to its architectural and cultural importance the city was classified a World Heritage Site 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 enjoy 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 of Gilroy on January 20, 2004.