Fort of Santo António da Barra or Old Fort

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Cascais > Cascais e Estoril > São João do Estoril

Location

Located in São João do Estoril, in the municipality of Cascais, district of Lisbon. It stands on the sea, between the Citadel of Cascais and the Fort of São Julião da Barra.

Importance

Main fortification between Cascais and São Julião da Barra, with a unique and historical structure.

Structure

, Irregular polygonal plant in the shape of a star.

, Two bastions connected by ravelins in a "V" shape with embrasures.

, Cylindrical sentry boxes at the vertices.

, Central building with a chapel and vaulted barracks.

, Two lines of walls with a moat between them.

History

Construction

Started in 1590 by friar Giovanni Vicenzo Casale, under the order of Philip I, to improve the defense of Lisbon.

Modifications

Reforms during the Restoration War to increase firepower.

Period of Decline

Lost strategic importance and was abandoned, suffering several interventions over the years.

20th Century

Used as a post for the Tax Guard and holiday camp. It served as a summer residence for António de Oliveira Salazar, where he suffered an accident in 1968 that influenced the end of his regime.

Classification and Current State

Property of Public Interest

Classified in 1977.

Recent Recovery

Transferred to the Cascais City Council, which began the recovery of the fort.

Open to the Public

Since March 2019, it has been open to the public on weekends and holidays.

Curiosities

, Salazar had a personal office in the fort.

, The site was the scene of a fire in 2016 and reports highlighted its state of abandonment in 2017.

Visits

, Open to the public on weekends and holidays.

, Serves as a space for public events, such as the April 25 celebrations.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forte_de_Santo_António_da_Barra

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