The History of
Parque Terra Nostra

Thomas Hickling, a Boston merchant enchanted by the transcendent beauty of the Azores, arrives on São Miguel Island.

Intrigued by the geothermal wonders of Furnas that he had heard so much about, he embarks on his first visit and promises to return.

In 1782, he fulfills his promise, purchasing the property. He allows his body to rest and rejuvenates his spirit.

A common oak, Quercus robur, is planted, standing tall in its timeless nobility to this day. 

This oak stands as a neighbor to the thermal water pool, marking the starting point of a journey that guides us through the most significant collections of Parque Terra Nostra.

Yankee Hall is the first summer home built in Furnas. Records indicate that Thomas Hickling named it "Hall of Liberty" at some point, reflecting his appreciation for freedom. 

In 1783, the house and a distinctive recreational 'tank' or small pond are built. A pond with an island connected to the shore offers opportunities for fishing, boat rides, or simply enjoying the presence of beautiful exotic birds. A surrounding grove of trees creates a new form of leisure.

Thomas Hickling fosters an atmosphere of inclusivity, welcoming people from all classes and statuses, and plants the seed of a shared passion for the garden.

Thomas Hickling Jr., who had inherited his father's property, later sells it in 1848 to the Viscounts of Praia.

The Viscountess, who had a special interest in Botany, and the Viscount, known for his reformist drive, acquire the property and start its expansion and rehabilitation.

The transfer of this enchanting place to another family comes with the condition that the Garden must remain open to the public, retaining its unique character and ability to captivate the senses of all who visit.

The Viscount of Praia's reformist vision leads to the demolition of the renowned Yankee Hall, which, after more than five decades of use, necessitates the construction of a new building — giving rise to Casa do Parque. 

This becomes the starting point for all dreams in mind and projects on paper. Thus, the entire estate is revitalized, with the assistance of foreign gardeners, including the Englishman William Webster.

Additional contiguous land is added to the Garden, expanding its borders. The recreational tank undergoes expansion, taking on a larger dimension. At the same time, the surrounding area is adorned with the grandeur and majesty of the Araucarias, which stand as the property's iconic emblem.

After the death of his father Duarte, António Borges de Medeiros Dias da Câmara and Sousa, 2nd Viscount of Praia, continues the tradition. He advances the Garden's expansion and works and alters its design to its current layout.
 

With more land added, new exotic species are introduced, and the new features are also notable, such as the iconic serpentine canal linked to Casa do Parque by a 50-step staircase.

In the 1880s, Palm Tree Avenue comes to life.

 

Lakes and small caves, bridges, and garden benches dot the landscape, showcasing decorative elements that contribute to a more structured and refined ambiance.

In 1896, a monument is erected to honor the Viscounts of Praia, conceptualized by António Borges de Medeiros Dias da Câmara, the son.

In the form of a marble obelisk, it features legendary creatures, griffins that hold four shields.

These shields represent four families: the Borges, with a lion surrounded by fleurs-de-lis; the Medeiros, with five eagle heads; the Dias, with a ten-pointed star; and the Câmaras, with a castle and two wolves.

Built in 1889, the renowned octagonal structure, affectionately known as the Sugar Bowl Gazebo, commands the lower regions of the Garden, offering a vantage point of unparalleled beauty to its surroundings.

On a 3-day visit to São Miguel Island, King Carlos and Queen Amelia are welcomed at Casa do Parque, where they stayed.

They get acquainted with an illuminated garden, with balloons bordering the paths and between trees.
They experience the beauty of a surreal reception that culminates in fireworks, orchestrated to pain the skies and reflect on the thermal pool.

Before their return to the mainland, in his farewell speech, the monarch states that never before, during his reign, had his heart been as vividly touched as during his stay in the Azores.

In 1904, Prince Albert I of Monaco visits the Azores.

 

Enthralled by the archipelago's natural treasures, he dubs it a garden of deep waters and a veritable natural laboratory.


He establishes a strong connection with the archipelago, enabling him to attain unparalleled scientific insights.

Vasco Bensaude, equipped with integrity and business acumen, acquires the pool, which becomes known as Parque Terra Nostra or Terra Nostra Garden.
 

Man of many interests - reading, photography, natural sciences, and the sea - is from early on passionate about plants. 

He uses theoretical study and weight of practice to learn and master the proper conditions, suitable fertilizers, and methods to prepare and preserve plants, recording all their care in the book "Notas Hortícolas" or "Horticultural Notes."

With the support and collaboration of Scottish gardener John McInroy, a new era of development and restoration commenced at Parque Terra Nostra.

The statue is inaugurated to honor Thomas Hickling, offered by the City Council of the Ponta Delgada district.
 

Due to its profound symbolic and historical significance, you can now find it at the beginning of the pathway leading to the elevated sections of Parque Terra Nostra.

Joaquim Bensaude, a connoisseur of plants and well-acquainted with the lush surroundings, presents a comprehensive restoration proposal to the Bensaude Group's Board of Directors.


Recognizing the Garden's vast potential, he advocates for a strategic intervention to assess its phytosanitary condition and implement restoration measures.
 

In 1990, the proposal is accepted by the group's leadership.

The restoration works begin, and arboriculturist Richard Green studies and analyzes the tree flora, with the Garden's renovation in the hands of horticulturist David Sayers and Fernando Costa, the Garden's head gardener.
 

With the collaboration of all, numerous botanical collections are introduced that become internationally renowned and position Parque Terra Nostra among the world's greatest parks.

David Sayers and Richard Green introduce the Malaysian rhododendron into the Garden, a symbol of danger and escape in the language of nineteenth-century flowers.

This section emerges after the restorations, elevating Terra Nostra to the distinction of being the sole European botanical park where this plant group flourishes outdoors.

The Vireya Garden is known for the long blooming duration of its rhododendron specimens.

Fernando Costa begins the first Endemic and Native Flora of the Azores, transporting us to some of the largest relics of the regional forest.

 

With its rich array of species and dense biodiversity, Parque Terra Nostra houses and nurtures some of the most representative plants of Azorean native flora.

The Fern Collection, a symbol of humility and salvation, is introduced to the Parque Terra Nostra in 1995. Located in the surrounding area of ​​the Yellow Stream, these plants benefit from high environmental humidity. 
 

Over time, these plants have been curated into collections, incorporated into artworks, and set up in romantic landscapes.

In 1998, Fernando Costa designs the Flower Garden after a trip to England.

Inspired by the border gardens next to natural walls or hedges, he envisions and brings to life this area with creativity, a burst of vibrant colors, and artistic expression.

 

You can find them next to Memorial Lane.

Historically cultivated in temple gardens and sacred spaces, Camellias arrive at Parque Terra Nostra.

Benefiting from optimal edaphoclimatic conditions for cultivation, the Garden proudly houses one of Europe's largest and most comprehensive camellia collections. Fernando Costa's team initiated this collection in 2004.

 

Camellias flower in the fall and maintain their blooms for about six months.

Patricia Bensaude Fernandes offers the possibility of introducing the species Wollemia Nobilis in Parque Terra Nostra, becoming the first plant of this species in a Portuguese botanical park.

This tree was acquired at a Sotheby's auction and planted in memory of Elie Bensaude Markovitch. 

The head gardener starts the Bamboo Collection in the Garden in 2009. 

 

The flowering of these plants occurs in long cycles and is sometimes synchronized in bamboo of the same species. 

 

In certain cultures, the plant is a symbol of vitality, discipline, and integrity, and in many rural communities is used in the manufacture of various objects.

 

While strolling through the Garden, you'll come across the Bamboo Garden at the boundary of Memorial Lane and Ginkgo Avenue.

In 2011, the head gardener began the Bromeliad Collection at Parque Terra Nostra.

The diversity of species is enormous and adapts to the most adverse environments.
 

This plant family includes the pineapple, often associated with the Azores. In the nineteenth century, José Bensaude made the first agricultural rehearsals with this species for commercial purposes on São Miguel Island. In 1864, the first pineapples were exported to the English market, bound for Queen Victoria's table.

The cultivation of this giant water lily was introduced in 2012 at Parque Terra Nostra, one of the only gardens in Portugal that can keep this plant outdoors.
 

A Czech visitor, who kept this species in a greenhouse, offered some seeds to Joaquim Bensaude to try growing them outdoors.

 

To this end, the head gardener and his team built three tanks with walls heated by thermal water to create a suitable habitat for developing these plants.

 

In 2014, the International Camellia Society attributed Parque Terra Nostra to the prestigious Camellia Garden of Excellence award.

 

The exceptional quality of its collection and its team's dedication are acknowledged, highlighting the unique excellence of Parque Terra Nostra.

In 2015, the Bensaude family honors Vasco Elias Bensaude with a bronze bust placed at the beginning of Ginkgo Avenue.

This stunning avenue, lined with numerous Ginkgo Biloba trees, was constructed in the 1930s according to his vision.

In 2015, Parque Terra Nostra is included in Phaidon Press's The Gardener's Garden, considered one of the 250 best gardens in the world and an iconic emblem of São Miguel Island.

In 2016, Carina Costa takes on the reconstruction project of the Flower Garden.

 

Today, this garden is an open area where we can find a set of beds with annual plants, which are replanted according to the flowering period to maintain the contrast of colors along the different seasons of the year.
 

It is an enriching circuit with a formal, appealing, and balanced look.

In 2017, at the Camellia Expo in Porto, one of the most important in Europe, Parque Terra Nostra showcased Camellia nitidissima flowers and was honored with the 1st prize.
 

An ongoing objective of the Garden team is to continually create new cultivars, thereby increasing the morphological diversity of the plants.

Head gardener Fernando Costa begins the Orchid Collection in 2017.
 

Nestled within the nursery, this small collection has room to expand and evolve, potentially transforming into one of the primary collections in the near future.

Fernando Costa installed a new Collection of Aquatic Plants in 2017, one of the most recent in the Garden.


This lake is located on the bottom section of Parque Terra Nostra.

In 2018, Carina Costa rethinks and expands the Endemic and Native Flora Garden.

 

To enhance the diversity and beauty of Parque Terra Nostra, new species are continually introduced, emphasizing the significance of preservation. This highlights how indigenous flora holds ornamental value, capable of enhancing any garden's aesthetics.

 

A new area is also established, drawing inspiration from the islands' natural landscapes, mimicking the altitudes found in the mountainous and coastal regions.

The setting for a variety of events and a must-visit for notable personalities, Casa do Parque (Park House) underwent renovations in 2021 to meet the evolving demands for comfort and visitor experience.
 

It is renamed Botania Hall.

The Garden's highlights are blended with influences from the Western landscape culture of diverse gardens, giving rise to this unique creation.

A new comprehensive project is conceived to harmonize the entire Parque Terra Nostra area, encompassing enhancements from the ticket offices to the changing rooms, seamlessly blending with Nature's splendor.


In 2023, a fresh and enhanced experience awaits all visitors to the Garden.