Forte de São Tiago das Cinco Pontas, Military fortress and city museum in Recife, Brazil.
Forte das Cinco Pontas is a fortified military structure with a pentagonal layout near the Capibaribe River in Recife. The building features thick stone walls and corner positions designed for defensive purposes.
Dutch forces built the original fortification in 1630, which Portuguese troops captured in 1654 and reconstructed using stone and limestone. The Portuguese redesign that followed reshaped the site's original configuration.
The site has housed the Museum of Recife since 1982, displaying exhibits about the city's development from colonial times through modern urban expansion. Visitors can walk through the halls and see how the city has grown and changed over the centuries.
The museum opens daily and offers guided tours in Portuguese and English through the fortress chambers. Wear comfortable shoes, as exploring the different levels and narrow spaces involves climbing stairs.
The fortress retains architectural features that reflect its transformation from the original pentagonal design through successive rebuilds. This evolution in form is still visible in the layout today.
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