A 16th century fortress opened as a hotel in March 2006, the Pousada de São Sebastião commands a dramatic Atlantic cliff top setting in the historic city of Angra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Terceira Island. The 29 guestrooms feature contemporary decor in neutral shades offset by muted blues and greens, with polished wooden floors and modern furnishings. All rooms open on to balconies and include high speed and wireless Internet connections, LCD televisions with cable channels, direct dial telephones, minibars and safes. Bathrooms include hair dryers, bidets and complimentary designer toiletries.
The Castelinho of São Sebastião maintains many of its original features, combining a 16th century Portuguese atmosphere with modern touches. The old meets the new in O Castelinho, an informal contemporary restaurant offering sea views and an outdoor terrace, where guests can dine on Atlantic fish, steaks, Espirito Santo soup, regional puddings and cheeses, accompanied by live Portuguese music. The Porto de Pipas serves wine and cocktails in a modern rustic setting that includes a mezzanine and a terrace overlooking the ocean. The hotel offers an outdoor seasonal pool and a separate children’s pool, and guests can relax and breathe in the sea air on the ocean terrace. The hotel also features an onsite marina that offers opportunities for snorkelling, sailing and scuba diving. Business visitors will find a range of office services available on site, and those with laptops can stay connected via wireless Internet access. Multilingual staff at the 24 hour front desk are on hand to provide room service, safeguard valuables and offer tourist and sightseeing advice. Those arriving by car will find complimentary parking on site. The area’s attractions include the medieval fortress at Monte Brasil, five kilometres away, and the cave and lagoon of Algar do Carvao, 13 kilometres from the hotel. The island’s nature reserve is 14 kilometres away. Lajes Airport is 20 kilometres away, with an approximate driving time of 25 minutes.