Fortress of Santa Maria da Arrábida

Category: Military Architecture > Fortress

District: Setúbal > Setúbal > Azeitão > Arrábida

Location:

The Forte de Santa Maria da Arrábida is located at the base of the southern slope of the Serra da Arrábida, in a privileged position overlooking the sea, in the Azeitão area, in the municipality of Setúbal. Its location offers panoramic views of the Portinho da Arrábida bay and the coastline, where the lush green of the mountains meets the deep blue of the ocean. This setting is part of the stunning environment of the Parque Natural da Arrábida.

From Military Fort to Marine Centre

Built between 1670 and 1676, during the regency of D. Pedro II, the Forte de Santa Maria da Arrábida played a crucial role in Portugal's coastal defense. Its construction was part of the defensive strategy for the Restoration of Independence, aiming to protect the Setúbal bar and the Portinho da Arrábida, which was also an important pilgrimage site. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the fort underwent several reconstruction and expansion works, remaining in operation until the end of the 19th century, when the evolution of warfare rendered its defensive function obsolete.

Over time, the fort lost its military purpose, but its historical and heritage value was recognized with its classification as an Imóvel de Interesse Público (Property of Public Interest) in 1977. Currently, this historical monument houses the Oceanographic Museum, a center dedicated to the study and dissemination of marine biology, highlighting the fort's intrinsic connection with the coastal environment it once defended.

Architecture and Heritage

The architecture of the Forte de Santa Maria da Arrábida reveals its adaptation to the rugged terrain, featuring a polygonal plan that conforms to the hillside. The fort is characterized by its hexagonal earthwork battery and four parapets facing the sea, which once housed artillery pieces. Inside, the rooms previously intended for military personnel have been transformed into exhibition halls and aquariums, inviting visitors on a journey of discovery about the region's marine fauna and flora.

One of the notable elements of the fort is its chapel, where an expressive image of Our Lady in lioz stone, with 17th-century features, can be observed. This presence evokes the religious tradition of the site, which dates back to a hermitage dedicated to the Virgin Mary, erected by a British merchant in the 13th century in gratitude for being saved from a shipwreck nearby.

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