For a retreat outside of the city, look no further than the Parque Terranostra Hotel. Situated in the beautiful Furnas Valley, this hotel just steps away from the Terranostra Botanical Gardens and the Thermal Water Pool of Terranostra Park. This has been a popular destination for visitors and locals since the 18th century who are ventured to bathe in the mineral water to help treat health problems and other ailments. The pool was built in 1780 by Thomas Hickling (the American consul who had the original idea for Terra Nostra Park) who created the pool within the beautiful botanical gardens which is still open to this day for visitors of the park and guests of the hotel to enjoy.
The Parque Terranostra Hotel was built in the 1930s and has preserved its original Art Deco decor to this day. While on-site, be sure to drop by the TN Restaurant within the hotel for a taste of some of the most traditional Azorean dishes served in a contemporary setting. If you have the chance, order the Furnas Cozido – a meat and vegetable stew is cooked underground for at least six hours using the heat and steam from the Furnas Volcano.
