With its 10,000 inhabitants, Praia da Vitória is one of the most modern towns in the Azores archipelago. It is located on the far east of the island of Terceira. From 1456 to 1474, Praia da Vitória was the seat of the captaincy of Terceira and the capital of the region before being replaced by Angra. Its bay shelters the largest sandy beach in the Azores. Its historic centre is a charming maze of streets and alleys whose old houses have double-hung barred windows or interesting mashrabiyas.