[1] The central section included an arcade with five rounded arches surmounted by varanda supporting an architrave, and accessible by lateral staircases.

[1] On 1 April 1643, by royal decree (issued by King D. John IV) Angra received the title of Sempre Leal Cidade (Always Loyal City) due to its notable actions.

[1] There was a decision to construct a new building in 1847, and a plan was ordered executed in the city of Porto, by António José Rodrigues Fartura, a rich merchant who established himself in Angra.

[1] On 1 January 1980 an extreme earthquake caused damage to the property, namely fractures and offsets along the walls of the elevation, supports to the covered structure along the open arches in the attic.

[1] Its western facade is occupied by a large square, called Praça Velha, paved with Portuguese pavement stone, forming geometric shapes and punctuated by trees.

[1] Immediately around the square are the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde (to the north) and buildings of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (in the west), while other buildings located near the seat are the Convent of São Francisco, the Chapel of Cruzeiro (in the northeast), the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the Palacete Silveira e Paulo (in the southeast), the Sé Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo (in the southwest), the Colégio de Santo Inácio, alongside the Garden of the Duke of Terceira (to the northwest).

The main facade is oriented to the west, and includes five sections, with rectangular frontispiece and jagged cornices, crowned by a marble feminine statute, representing the city of Angra.

[1] The principal entranceway fronts on a large vestibule, with frontal gallery that includes an arcade of three rounded-arches, over central pilasters, covered by false cruciform vaulted-ceilings in stucco.

[1] The vestibule, with columns on either side, is dominated by an Arraiolos carpet, a buffet table in woods dated to the 18th century, with silver candelabra, flanked by chairs from the old session hall.