The Bettencourt Palace is an 18th-century civil building now serving as the Angra do Heroísmo public library and regional archive — an unglamorous but actually quite useful repurposing. The building is a good example of Azorean Baroque civil architecture: the facade has the restraint typical of the style, with carved stone window surrounds and a doorway that signals status without excess. Inside, the original room proportions and ceiling heights remain, now occupied by bookshelves and reading tables.
The archive function makes this a working institution rather than a heritage showpiece. Researchers come here to work with documents relating to the Azores' history in the Atlantic trade, the colonial period, and island administration. Casual visitors can enter the library portion and get a sense of the building's character. The building is on the main square, which means it's easy to combine with the cathedral and city hall in a walking circuit of the historic center.