Fort Real de São Filipe, Military fort in Cidade Velha, Cape Verde.
Fort Real de São Filipe is a trapezoidal stone fortress on the Achada Forte plateau, 120 m above sea level above Cidade Velha. Its walls have two full pentagonal bastions at the east and west corners, joined by curtain walls, plus two half-bastions with watchtowers to the north and south. The main gate opens in the southwest wall toward the town; inside are the governor's house, the São Gonçalo chapel, a cistern, powder magazine, warehouses and troop quarters.
This fortification was built between 1587 and 1593 after raids by English forces under Francis Drake damaged existing defenses on the coast. Stone blocks were brought from Portugal to construct walls strong enough to withstand future attacks.
Inside the walls stood the Casa do Governador beside the south half-bastion, facing the chapel of São Gonçalo, with the powder magazine and warehouses to the southeast and troop barracks to the west. Recent excavations uncovered the walls of the old barracks and the captain-general's house. The site is also called Achada Forte, the plateau it crowns.
The fort is open to visitors daily and allows exploration of the bastions, chapel, and former military buildings. Wear sturdy shoes as the paths across the fortification are uneven and sometimes steep in places.
The fort's guns could not fire short-range shots toward the town below, since the landward side sits directly above Ribeira Grande and the risk of hitting the settlement was too great. Recent excavations uncovered the walls of the old barracks and the Captain-general's house.
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