Areosa Fort
the Areosa Fort (Forte da Areosa in Portuguese), also referred to as Areosa Fortlet (Fortim da Areosa in Portuguese), is located in the place of Rego de Fontes, by the bay of Vinha, in the village and parish of Areosa, in the municipality of Caminha, district of Viana do Castelo, in Portugal.[1]
It is classified as a "Property of Public Interest" since 1970.[1]
History
It was built during the War of Restoration of Portuguese Independence (1640-1668), and was one of three similar forts built along the coast between Caminha and Viana do Castelo with the aim of strengthening the defense of the Atlantic coast of Alto Minho, vulnerable to possible attacks by pirates or the Spanish navy, the others being the Fort of Cão in Gelfa and Montedor Fort in Vila Praia de Âncora.[1][2] These reinforced the Ínsua Fort, built during that conflict to defend the mouth of the Minho River.[2]
At the time, existing fortifications such as the Valença fortress, the Castle of Vila Nova de Cerveira and the fort Santiago da Barra were renovated. To complement the defense of the left (south) bank of the Minho River, the Fort São Francisco de Lovelhe was built in Vila Nova de Cerveira.
In 1983, the property was handed to the Regional Tourism Board (since extinct), when it was considered for tourist and cultural use.[1] In 2000, a project was prepared, by the architect Luís Teles, to adapt the fort to an interpretation and support center for environmental routes.[1]
Features
A bastioned coastal fort, of small dimensions and simple design, it has a star-shaped plan in the Mannerist style, consisting of four unequal bastions.[1] The side facing the sea is curved, the opposite side being concave.[1] In the latter, the gate-of-arms is a perfect arch. In its interior are the service quarters, besides a corridor in the center of the fort that serves as a courtyard.
It's similar to the forts of Montedor and Cão, whose plan constituted, at the time, an advance in the system for coastal watch and defense.[2] It is believed that this set of three similar coastal forts may have been designed by the architect Manuel Pinto Villa Lobos.
Gallery
- Landside view
- Far view
- Sea side bastion
- Courtyard
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fortim da Areosa / Fortim da Vinha at monumentos.gov.pt
- ^ a b c Fortim da Areosa at geoparquelitoralviana.pt
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Fortress_of_Almeida.jpg/170px-Fortress_of_Almeida.jpg)
Branco
- Forte de Ponte de Alvito
- Fortress of Buarcos
- Santa Catarina
- Palheiros Fort
- Estremoz
- Juromenha
- Santo António da Piedade
- Fort of Mourão
- São Luís
- Fort of Arrifana
- Santa Catarina
- São João do Arade
- Nossa Senhora da Encarnação
- Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Nossa Senhora da Penha de França
- Cavaleiros de Santiago
- São Sebastião de Castro Marim
- Fort of Sagres
- Nossa Senhora da Guia
- São Roque
- São Vicente
- Santo António de Tavira
- São João da Barra
- Vera Cruz
- Burgau Fort
- Santo António de Belixe
- Nossa Senhora da Rocha
- São Francisco
- Nossa Senhora da Consolação
- São João Baptista das Berlengas
- São Miguel Arcanjo
- São Vicente
- Bom Sucesso
- Santo António da Barra
- São Lourenço do Bugio
- Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Fort of Guincho
- Nossa Senhora da Guia
- Santa Susana
- São João das Maias
- São Bruno
- Nossa Senhora de Porto Salvo
- São Pedro de Milreu
- Nossa Senhora dos Anjos
- Nossa Senhora das Mercês
- Fort of Sacavém
- São Jorge
- São Julião da Barra
- São Pedro do Estoril
- São Teodósio
- Santa Marta
- Santo Amaro
- Nossa Senhora da Natividade
- Santa Apolónia
- São Brás de Sanxete
- Fort of Cresmina
Lines of Torres Vedras | |
---|---|
Campo Entrincheirado |
Castelo
- Areosa Fort
- Fort of Cão
- Nossa Senhora da Ínsua
- Fort of Lagarteira
- Montedor Fort
- Monção
- Santiago da Barra
- São Francisco de Lovelhe
- Valença
- Fort of the Açougue (Terceira)
- Fort of the Cavalas (Terceira)
- Fort of the Church of São Mateus da Calheta (Terceira)
- Fort of Cinco Ribeiras (Terceira)
- Espírito Santo (Terceira)
- Fort of the Caninas (Terceira)
- Nossa Senhora da Guia (Faial)
- Fort of Greta (Terceira)
- Fort of Má Ferramenta (Terceira)
- Fort of the Maré (Terceira)
- Military Battery of Espalamaca (Faial)
- Fort of Negrito (Terceira)
- Dois Paus redoubt (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Terceira)
- Reducto da Salga (Terceira)
- Três Paus redoubt (Terceira)
- Forte da Salga (Terceira)
- Santa Catarina das Mós (Terceira)
- Santa Cruz (Faial)
- Santo António (Terceira)
- Santo António do Monte Brasil (Terceira)
- São Brás (Santa Maria)
- São Fernando (Terceira)
- São Francisco (Terceira)
- São João (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Santa Maria)
- São Mateus da Calheta (Terceira)
- São Sebastião (Terceira)
- Forte do Terreiro (Terceira)
- Zimbreiro Fort (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Pico)
- Nossa Senhora do Amparo (Madeira)
- São José (Porto Santo)
- São Lourenço (Madeira)
- São Tiago (Madeira)