Terra Nostra Garden Hotel Story
The history of our hotel on São Miguel
Under the founding members, Vasco Bensaude, Augusto Arruda, Lúcio Agnelo Casimiro, Francisco Faria e Maia, Francisco Bicudo de Medeiros e Albano Pereira da Ponte, the project was handed over to Manuel António de Vasconcelos, who designed the Hotel, in a style influenced by Art Deco, which was then very popular in Brussels, where Vasconcelos had studied.
The Casino was built at the same time, intended for the entertainment of guests at the Hotel and the “upper crust” of the island. The Second World War, which broke out at the end of the decade, led to a sharp decline in the flow of visitors, but the Hotel continued to welcome various personages, including politicians and North American film stars, throughout the entire period.
The Azores were little known to the rest of the world, and the only visitors to Furnas were curious or very well-informed travellers. The rediscovery of the enchantment of the Azores and its luxuriant landscapes began in the 1970s.
Today, the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas, São Miguel, is nestled in one of the World’s best “Green Retreats,” as deemed by Condé Nast Traveler - the 18th century Terra Nostra Garden exudes a breathtaking atmosphere of exoticism and mysticism in perfect harmony with nature.
Opened since 1935, a time when the Azores Islands entered the international travel circuit for those seeking unique experiences, Terra Nostra Garden Hotel keeps the charming aura and exclusivity of the past, bringing you 86 rooms split between two buildings, maintaining its architectural history: the Art Deco Wing, built in the 1930s and the Garden Wing, added in the 1990s.
The hotel’s interior design concept stems from the Art Deco style, and introduces contemporary elements and materials, creating comfort and exclusivity perfectly integrated with the lush Terra Nostra Garden. The new Wellness areas are available and improved upon, making this hotel the perfect spot for your special events, taking into consideration the tremendous potential of Furnas Valley with theme-oriented activities, as a retreat getaway and so much more. In addition to the renovation, Terra Nostra Garden Hotel highlights Azorean products, focuses on the Furnas Cozido experience (a sustainable meal fully cooked underground with the heat of the volcanic hot springs) and the importance of protecting Furnas’s unique environmental resources.
The new Terra Nostra Restaurant offers a vast array of wine choices and delectable menu, up to par with the expectations of any wine connoisseur or avid foodie, who will appreciate the impeccable service and ambience this restaurant has always had. Come stay with us at Terra Nostra Garden Hotel and you will have an unforgettable wellness experience, leaving you with memories to last a lifetime. Dare to experience comfort like never before and book today.