Monte Brasil is a dormant volcanic promontory that juts into the Atlantic south of Angra do Heroísmo, forming a protected bay on one side and an exposed sea cliff on the other. The entire headland is a protected landscape reserve — forested, largely road-free, and criss-crossed with walking trails that give some of the best panoramic views in the Azores.
The São João Baptista fortress stretches across the base of the promontory — a massive 16th-century fortification with walls nearly 3 km long that was designed to protect Angra, then the most important stopping point in the mid-Atlantic for ships crossing between Europe and the Americas. The walk around the headland takes 2–3 hours and involves some scrambling near the cliff edges; boots are advisable. The summit viewpoint looks north across Angra's bay and south to open Atlantic.