Forte de São João da Bertioga

Forte de São João da Bertioga is a colonial fortress in Bertioga built with robust stone and limestone walls, featuring two cannons facing the beach. The weathered white facade overlooks the Bertioga Channel and displays the sturdy construction designed to protect this coastal region.

The fort was founded in 1547 to protect the villages of Santos and São Vicente, beginning as a straw structure. Following attacks by indigenous peoples, it was later rebuilt with stone and renamed after a saint.

The fort houses a museum displaying scenes of indigenous daily life, cannons, replicas of Portuguese armor, and historical artifacts from the region. Visitors can observe the everyday objects and tools that shaped life at this location across the centuries.

The fortress is located on Vicente de Carvalho Avenue in central Bertioga and is easily accessible to visitors. Admission is free, and the site welcomes guests throughout the week and weekends, making it a flexible destination for day trips.

The fortress is recognized as the oldest in Brazil and takes its current name from a saint image that was placed there in later years. This renaming from São Tiago to São João reflects how religious devotion shaped the site over time.