The Azores are nine volcanic islands located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In Terceira my wife Antonella and I found our own slice of heaven. Here we have discovered priceless treasures: the warmth of its inhabitants, always friendly and smiling; a strong attachment to traditions, which are still very much alive and are the lifeblood of its well-known festivals. And of course, the vivid colours of its natural environment: luxuriant green vegetation, deep blue ocean, clear blue sky, black and red rocks, evidences of primitive evolutionary forces. Terceira is a crossroad of peoples and is rich in culture and history; Angra do Heroismo, its beautiful capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s its best testimony. On one single day you will be able to experience wild natural beauties, cool off into crystal clear Ocean waters, resting your eyes on a distant horizon, contemplate a surreal sunset and then experience a first-class culinary experience, maybe attending a colourful festival. Such a big treasure must be shared.

That’s the reason why we decided to build a guest house. Completed in 2018 and adjacent to our own house, the guest house is located in the municipality of Cinco Ribeiras, in the south-west of the island Terceira, about 10 km from Angra and 1 km from Porto das Cinco, one of the most impressive bathing sites on the island. Set within a 3000 square meter property, the house is an example of Terceira’s traditional architecture: made of stone walls, the main facade looking south, with wooden roof and tiles traditionally handcrafted using local materials. It was restored maintaining the original construction plan and preserving some structures of historical interest, such as the water reservoir, the furnace and the press, “lagar” in Portuguese, from which the house takes its name. The house is placed on the main street of Cinco Ribeiras and consists in two floors with an independent apartment on each floor. The apartment on the ground floor comprises a bedroom with one double bed and a fully equipped bathroom, a living room with sofa-bed and well-equipped kitchenette. The restored ancient lagar stands out in the living room.

The kitchenette was build using the space formerly occupied by a traditional furnace, which was discovered during the building renovation. The apartment on the first floor is an open-space with wooden flooring, featuring a double bed in the sleeping area and two single beds in the living area, a fully equipped kitchenette and a fully equipped bathroom. On the outside there is a communal area, divided into various spaces, and a parcel where we have created a hen-house and a vegetable garden, to offer healthy and tasty products to our guests. Only 50 meters from the guest house lies the dairy Queijo Vaquinha, making the island’s oldest cheese. Guests can taste different types of homemade cheese accompanied by the traditional sweet bread and a good glass of Azorean wine. The dairy is also a bar where our guests can start the day with a rich breakfast. Or they can cook they own breakfast in the apartment using the fully equipped kitchen corner. Looking forward to welcome you in Terceira and to make you discover the fascination and the authenticity of its everyday life and unforgettable atmospheres.