Forte de Santa Maria, Colonial fortress at Porto da Barra Beach, Salvador, Brazil
The heptagonal stone fortress stands on a narrow embankment with broad curtain walls extending toward the Atlantic Ocean waters.
Built in 1696 to defend Salvador's port, the fortress formed part of a strategic military network protecting Brazil's first capital against maritime invasions.
The National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage designated the fortress as a protected monument in 1938, recognizing its Portuguese colonial architecture.
The fortress remains closed to visitors since 2001 due to maintenance issues, with ongoing discussions between the Brazilian Navy and heritage authorities.
The fortress walls display the original 17th-century military engineering techniques, including specialized stone masonry methods from Portuguese colonial builders.
Location: Salvador
Inception: 1696
Address: Avenida Sete de Setembro, s/n, Praça Amigos da Marinha
GPS coordinates: -13.00450,-38.53368
Latest update: March 5, 2025 12:22
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