Fort of Ínsua

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Viana do Castelo > Caminha > Moledo do Minho > Ínsua

Location

- Located on the Ínsua de Santo Isidro, a small island off Moledo, in Caminha.

- It is about 200 meters from the coast, near the mouth of the Minho River.

Historical Significance

- Classified as a National Monument since 1910.

- Built to defend the coast and the convent that existed there.

Origins and Construction

- Originally, there was a hermitage dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Ínsua on the site.

- In 1392, Galician Franciscan friars built a convent.

- The initial fortification was ordered to be built by D. João I for protection against maritime attacks.

- It was renovated over the centuries, with notable works during the reigns of D. Manuel I and D. Filipe I.

Current Fort

- The structure that can be seen today was built between 1649 and 1652, during the Restoration War.

- It has a star-shaped plan with five bastions and a ravelin.

- Inside is the old convent, enlarged in 1676.

Curiosities

- During the Peninsular War, it was occupied by Spanish and French troops.

- With the extinction of religious orders in 1834, the monks abandoned the site.

- The freshwater well in the fort is one of only three in the world located in the sea.

Present Day and Tourism

- Since 2016, it has been part of the Revive program, which aims to recover historical heritage for tourism purposes.

- In 2020, it was leased to a company for the creation of an experience hotel and a tourist activity center.

Access and Visits

- Only accessible by boat, from the coast of Moledo.

- It can be visited on organized tours, depending on sea conditions and the tide.

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

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