Fortress of the Knights of Santiago de Cacela

Category: Military Architecture > Fortress

District: Faro > Vila Real de Santo António > Vila Nova de Cacela > Cacela Velha

Location

The Fortress of the Knights of Santiago of Cacela stands in the charming village of Cacela Velha, part of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António. Its elevated and dominant position offers a privileged perspective over the mouth of the Ria Formosa.

Integrated into the vast Ria Formosa Natural Park and part of the Natura 2000 Network, the fortress benefits from a unique natural and maritime setting. From the square in front, visitors can enjoy panoramic views that stretch across the estuary, reaching the bay of Monte Gordo and, on clear days, glimpsing the Spanish coast in the distance, including Ilha Canela and Isla Cristina. The main facade of the fortress opens onto a square, marked by the presence of imposing Canary Island date palms, which complement the historic ambiance of the site.

Historical Legacy

The history of the Cacela Fortress is long and rich, dating back to a primitive Moorish fortification, built before the Christian Reconquest. The site was conquered from the Moors by D. Sancho II in 1240 and subsequently donated to the Order of Santiago, which explains the name by which it is currently known.

Over the centuries, the fortress underwent various transformations and setbacks. In the 16th century, its medieval defenses, already in ruins, were subject to significant reconstruction works initiated by monarchs such as D. João III and D. Sebastião, who personally inspected the works in 1573. In the 18th century, the structure was severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake, but would be rebuilt between 1770 and 1794, under the direction of D. Rodrigo de Noronha, and finalized by D. Nuno José Fulgêncio de Mendonça e Moura. A plaque at the entrance to the fortress attests to the completion year of this last major work.

Defensive Architecture

The fortress features a trapezoidal plan, characteristic of military architecture of the period, with bastions at its salient angles and watchtowers. Inside, in what would have been its parade ground, there were service buildings and a cistern, essential for the military life of the fort.

Its design reflects the need for adaptation to coastal defense techniques, with one side facing the sea. Although the buildings inside are currently used by the National Republican Guard and are not open to public visitation, the exterior structure and walls still reveal the robustness and defensive purpose that defined its existence over the centuries, marking the landscape of Cacela Velha with its imposing presence.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt