Forte de São Filipe da Bertioga, Portuguese colonial fort in Guarujá, Brazil
Forte de São Filipe da Bertioga is a fortification in Guarujá built on Baleia Point overlooking the Bertioga Canal. The site features stone walls and defensive structures positioned to control the waterway and protect the coastal settlement.
The fort was built starting in 1552 following attacks on an earlier settlement, with completion and cannon installation finished in 1553 under Governor Tomé de Sousa. This construction marked a major step in securing Portuguese control over the coastal region.
The fort displays Portuguese military construction methods visible in its design and layout. The site shows how European settlers built defenses to control the coastal area and protect their settlement.
The site can be reached from the land and features informational signs along with optional guided tours to learn about the fort's defensive systems. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes since the grounds are uneven and exploring the structures requires some walking around the area.
The German traveler Hans Staden witnessed the fort's early construction and left written accounts of the conflicts between European settlers and indigenous peoples of the region. His observations provide a rare first-hand view of daily life during this turbulent founding period.
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