WHAT TO VISIT
Fortaleza Real de São Filipe
Monumentos Históricos
Details
The Forte Real de São Filipe, also referred to as the Fortaleza Real de São Filipe or simply as the Fortaleza, is located at the top of Achada Forte, in the current city of Ribeira Grande, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago, on the island of Santiago, in Cape Verde. Due to its isolation in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Ribeira Grande was born without concerns about its own defense.
The fort was built in the context of the Philippine Dynasty, after the assaults by the English privateer Francis Drake in 1578 and on November 17, 1585, with the function of defending the city and its anchorage. The works began in 1587 and were completed in 1593, under the responsibility of military engineer João Nunes and designed by military architect Filipe Terzio.
The fort has a trapezoidal-shaped plan, with stone walls, two complete pentagonal bastions at the eastern and western vertices, separated by curtains, and two half-bastions, to the north and south, with their respective sides. As it was located on the land side, overlooking the town of Ribeira Grande, it was not possible for short-range shots to be fired from the fortress, due to the risk of hitting the town.
The fort was built in the context of the Philippine Dynasty, after the assaults by the English privateer Francis Drake in 1578 and on November 17, 1585, with the function of defending the city and its anchorage. The works began in 1587 and were completed in 1593, under the responsibility of military engineer João Nunes and designed by military architect Filipe Terzio.
The fort has a trapezoidal-shaped plan, with stone walls, two complete pentagonal bastions at the eastern and western vertices, separated by curtains, and two half-bastions, to the north and south, with their respective sides. As it was located on the land side, overlooking the town of Ribeira Grande, it was not possible for short-range shots to be fired from the fortress, due to the risk of hitting the town.
