His full name was Luís Filipe Maria Fernando Pedro de Alcântara António Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis João Augusto Júlio Valfando, and he arrived at the Bay of Angra on October 30, 1858, the day before his twentieth birthday.

At five in the afternoon, the mixed corvettes Bartholomeu Dias and Sagres appeared in the bay. These vessels, recently added to the Navy’s fleet, formed a Naval Division commanded by Prince Dom Luís, a frigate captain of the Royal Navy.

The next day marked the birthday of “His Royal Highness the Most Serene Lord Prince Dom Luís Filipe, Duke of Porto.” Everything was prepared to receive him. There was “the utmost satisfaction of all the people of Angra,” as he came to “celebrate his twentieth birthday,” and it was noted that “Providence brought to Terceira Island such a Handsome Prince, a Friend of Letters and Navigation, on such a remarkable day.”

“To the sound of artillery salutes and the pealing of bells, the MOST SERENE LORD PRINCE DOM LUÍS descended into the launch and landed in Angra do Heroísmo on the very same quay where, 26 years earlier, and surely at the same hour, His Majesty King Dom Pedro IV, his august grandfather, had disembarked. [...]

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS wore the uniform of a frigate captain of the navy and bore the Grand Cross of the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Tower and Sword of Valor, Loyalty, and Merit. He was accompanied by the Peer of the Realm Count of Linhares, his chamberlain, and by frigate captains Paulo Centurini and Antonio Sergio de Souza, along with other officers of the corvette crews.”

Prince Dom Luís made his way to Angra Cathedral through crowds cheering him along Direita and Cathedral Streets, where he attended a religious ceremony. Over the next two days, he paid formal visits to local authorities and explored the city, always welcomed enthusiastically by the people.

“That evening, the city was once again illuminated, from public buildings to most private homes. On the morning of November 2, a strong gale struck the Bay of Angra, forcing the corvettes to weigh anchor and, fearing the storm might worsen, they departed around 11 a.m. bound for the beautiful island of Faial.”

That same afternoon, the Bartholomeu Dias anchored in the Bay of Horta, where it remained for eleven days, until November 13.

“Once health and customs inspections confirmed the presence of such a distinguished figure in the bay, the people of Horta began preparing to welcome him with all the pomp possible. That very night, leading authorities went aboard to greet the Prince, and the next morning, the main fortress fired salutes and all forts, consular buildings, and moored ships were decorated with flags.”

The “Most Serene Prince” came ashore “around one in the afternoon,” was greeted by local officials, and received a hero’s welcome. He joined a procession to the Main Church, where a solemn Te Deum was sung.

In the following days, Prince Dom Luís hosted numerous receptions aboard and visited many institutions, particularly those focused on care and culture. He attended four balls held in his honor and took part in two hunts — one for rabbits and another for woodcocks.

The Annals of the Dabney Family on Faial describe some social aspects of the Prince's visit to the island:

“Autumn became memorable with the visit of Prince Dom Luís (brother of the King of Portugal), aboard the Bartholomeu Dias. He arrived on the afternoon of November 7, to our great surprise, as we had thought he would visit São Miguel first. It was a magnificent afternoon, and Pico looked stunning to greet the royal guest.

[…] Ours was the only home he honored with a visit […] Several parties were held, hosted by the Civil Governor, the Senate, and the Baron of Santa Ana. At the latter two, he behaved like a schoolboy at a wild celebration. The Prince’s visit became a landmark in the annals of the small island. People in São Miguel were terribly disappointed that he didn’t stop there, as they had made grand preparations to entertain him.”

On the morning of November 13, the Bartholomeu Dias departed for Angra. However, Prince Dom Luís did not disembark in that city again “as he did not consider it appropriate to linger in these parts with winter already well advanced.”

“Thus, the band of the Sociedade Harmonica Terceirense ‘promptly boarded a launch, lavishly decorated with flags and flowers,’ and played music alongside the corvette in a gesture of farewell and homage.”

In the end, Prince Dom Luís visited only two Azorean islands. Due to bad weather, he skipped São Miguel, and the ships sailed directly from Terceira to Lisbon, enduring a very stormy voyage.

Queen Maria II had died in 1853, succeeded by her eldest son Dom Pedro V, who died of typhoid fever in 1861 at age 24. As he left no heirs, Prince Dom Luís ascended the throne at the age of 23 and ruled for 28 years until his death in 1889.

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