The Palácio dos Capitães-Generais, located in the parish of Sé, in the historic center of the city and municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, is a magnificent building of considerable dimensions that bears witness to the city’s economic power over the centuries.
The construction of the building was authorized by King D. Sebastião in 1572 as a gift to the then important Society of Jesus, conceived as a convent and college, still reflecting today the primary intention of the arrival of the Jesuits to this island: to educate, instruct, and catechize.
In 1760, the Jesuits were expelled from Terceira Island, and in 1766, the Marquis of Pombal established a new administrative, civil, and judicial organization for the archipelago, centralized in the city of Angra and personified in the figure of the Captain-General. The former college was gradually transformed into a palace residence during the period of the Captaincy-General.
The Palace houses remarkable works of art and furniture, including an interesting collection of tiles, paintings, sculptures, among other treasures, classified as a Public Interest Monument. The Room of the Kings stands out, adorned with life-size oil portraits of the Kings of the House of Braganza.
On two occasions, it served as a Royal Palace: in 1832, during the reign of D. Pedro IV, witnessing the advances of the Liberal Monarchy; and in 1901, during the reign of D. Carlos I.
Guided Tours: Daily, for a small additional cost, guided tours are conducted in different languages.
Oil Paintings
In the Room of the Kings of Braganza, also known as the Room of the Frowns and Ballroom, ten oil paintings stand out, larger than life-size, of the monarchs of the House of Braganza. It was in this spacious hall that Pedro IV of Portugal hosted a splendid ball on April 4, 1832, on the birthday of his daughter, Maria II of Portugal.
