The Terre Nostra Garden ( The Animals )

Based on plantations started by Thomas Hickling in the 18th century and continued in the 19th century, Terra Nostra Park,
in the picturesque parish of Furnas, is a romantic vision of ponds, winding paths, flowers, centuries-old exotic trees and
silence. Two streams converge in the park and there is a pond of warm thermal water that is used as a swimming-pool.















In 1990 Filipe Bensaude started another renovation of The Terra Nostre Garden with English gardeners and a
handful of tree surgeons. Local engineers rebuilt the canals and the tree surgeons worked on approximately 2,500 trees.
New species of trees and plants were brought in including a collection of Rhododendrons, a Malesian native species of
tropical mountains. Terra Nostra is the only garden in Europe that can grow these plants outdoors and unprotected.
Most recently a garden of cycads, a fern garden and formal flower and plant gardens were added.
Going to the Azores, or more specifically to São Miguel without visiting this garden is much like going to Rome and
not visiting the Sistine Chapel."