Fort of Pessegueiro Island, forte na ilha do Pessegueiro
Fort of Pessegueiro Island is a 17th-century fortification with thick stone walls standing on a rocky cliff overlooking the coast. The structure features defensive elements including small windows, a tunnel, underground rooms, and a broad terrace that offers views of the sea and surrounding shoreline.
A king ordered the construction of a fortress in the early 1600s to combat pirates, with the first built around 1603 and a stronger version completed at the end of the 17th century, staffed by about 30 soldiers with 5 cannons. An earthquake in 1755 damaged a smaller fort on the island, while the main fortress survived and remains standing.
The fort was a place where soldiers lived and worked, and its location reflects how the sea was central to the local community's safety and trade. The structure shows how people once protected their coast and maintained control over the surrounding waters.
Access to the island is by small boats from Porto Covo, and visitors should bring sun protection and water as there is little shade on the island. The best time to visit is during dry, sunny days when the sea is calm and visibility is clear.
The island is said to have been settled by Carthaginians and later used by Romans for fish processing, with ruins of salting tanks still showing this early use. A legend tells of North African pirates who killed a hermit but left an image of the Virgin Mary untouched, which was later enshrined in a chapel called Nossa Senhora da Queimada.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
