Fort of São Filipe and Fortress of Barra Grande

Fort of São Filipe and Fortress of Barra Grande

Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil

Military Architecture

The history of the Fort of São Felipe – which is located at a strategic point – dates back to the 16th century when Brás Cubas built a palisade on the tip of the Island of Santo Amaro, today Guarujá. According to the data from condephaat, Hans Staden, its first gunner, gave shape to the structure. The fort, as it appears today, was built in 1765 by order of the governor Luís António de Souza Botelho Mourão with the name of the Fort of São Luís. It was abandoned in the 19th century, which explains why it is today in such a precarious state of conservation. Remaining from the original construction are the ruins of the city walls, watchtowers, walls and floors made of stone. It was listed by iphan on 31st October, 1965, and by condephaat (ex officio) on 5th May, 1980. The construction of the Fortress of Santo Amaro da Barra Grande (Santos) started around 1580. It was aimed at protecting the Casqueiro Channel – which led to the town of Santos – against the constant attacks from Indians and pirates. The Island of Santo Amaro already had at this time a small settlement on the land of Jorge Ferreira, which was granted to him by Martim Afonso de Souza. João Massé built another fortress on the site of the old one in 1723, when Rodrigo César de Meneses was governor of the captaincy of São Paulo. It underwent some remodelling and was used until 1911, when it was closed. It was recently restored by iphan, this being the main example of São Paulo Military Architecture of the colonial period. It was listed by iphan on 23rd April, 1964, and by condephaat (ex officio) on 5th May, 1980.

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