Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.43453354075795, -9.116637523787103

The Fort of São Teodósio da Ponta do Cavalo, also referred to as Fort of Ponta do Cavalo or Forte do Cavalo, rises in a dominant position to the west of the bay of Sesimbra, in the District of Setúbal, in Portugal.

In the past, it was part of the defensive line of the stretch of coastline known today, in terms of tourism, as the Blue Coast, which, in the 17th century, stretched from Albarquel to Sesimbra, complementing the defense of the important maritime town of Setúbal.

In it is installed the lighthouse of Forte do Cavalo.

Forte do Cavalo has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1978.

History

The idea of ​​a fortification in this place, to defend the port of Sesimbra, dates back to the Restoration of Portuguese independence, proposed by Father Simão Falónio, who imagined it in rammed earth (1640).

It would only materialize, however, within the scope of the complete remodeling of the kingdom's defensive strategy implemented under the reign of D. João IV (1640-1656), comprising the defense of the Setúbal bar. Thus, under the invocation of São Teodósio, started in 1648, it was inaugurated in 1652, with a project attributed to the military engineer and architect Sebastião Pereira de Frias, according to the epigraphic inscription originally on a tombstone over the gate of the cistern-tower:

"D. João IV reigning in Portugal and sending the arms of Prince D. Theodósio, and the arms of Setúbal and his party Nunes da Cunha, this fortress of São Theodósio was destined, being Captain Major Francisco de Mattos Machado, vervedores the judge of other than Francisco Salgado de Moraes, Manoel Carvalho de Vargas, Manoel Farto do Olival, António Martins da Silva, Engineer Sebastião Pereira de Frias, Year 1652." Prince D. Teodósio died the following year, three years before the sovereign.

It suffered damage from the 1755 earthquake.

In the 19th century, it was garrisoned and equipped with artillery at the time of the Peninsular War, during the first French invasion under the command of General Junot (1807-08). Abandoned by the garrison in 1822, it was garrisoned again later during the Liberal Wars.

Only in 1895 did work begin to install the current lighthouse, in the so-called Battery Alta, starting to operate the following year, signaling the entrance to the port of Sesimbra.

In the last quarter of the 20th century, at the request of the Directorate-General for Lighthouses, reconstruction and adaptation works were carried out by the Directorate-General for National Buildings and Monuments (DGEMN) (1976). Considered a Property of Public Interest by Decree n°95/78, published on September 12, 1978, new recovery and improvement works were carried out in 1981-1983, 1986 and 1991.

Currently assigned to the Ministry of National Defense (Portuguese Navy), its premises are used as the lighthouse keeper's residence.

Characteristics

Fort of São Teodósio da Ponta do Cavalo: view from the gate This maritime fortification, built in stone and brick masonry, has an irregular polygonal plan, in the Mannerist style.

Accessed by a simple, full-turn gate, inside the Plaza de Armas stands a circular tower with a terrace. It is flanked by recent buildings, where the lighthouse keeper currently lives.

At the ends, there are two bulwarks with sloped walls, where gunboats were originally located. In the salient angle to the west there is a prismatic guardhouse.

The fortification originally extended to the east. This section of the building was destroyed during the construction of the shelter port and the respective road that gives access to it.

Of the old dependencies of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, now in ruins on the perimeter of the fort, only the image of the patron saint remains, in polychrome wood, transferred at the end of the 19th century to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Castelo (Sesimbra).

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.43453354075795, -9.116637523787103

The Fort of São Teodósio da Ponta do Cavalo, also referred to as Fort of Ponta do Cavalo or Forte do Cavalo, rises in a dominant position to the west of the bay of Sesimbra, in the District of Setúbal, in Portugal.

In the past, it was part of the defensive line of the stretch of coastline known today, in terms of tourism, as the Blue Coast, which, in the 17th century, stretched from Albarquel to Sesimbra, complementing the defense of the important maritime town of Setúbal.

In it is installed the lighthouse of Forte do Cavalo.

Forte do Cavalo has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1978.

History

The idea of ​​a fortification in this place, to defend the port of Sesimbra, dates back to the Restoration of Portuguese independence, proposed by Father Simão Falónio, who imagined it in rammed earth (1640).

It would only materialize, however, within the scope of the complete remodeling of the kingdom's defensive strategy implemented under the reign of D. João IV (1640-1656), comprising the defense of the Setúbal bar. Thus, under the invocation of São Teodósio, started in 1648, it was inaugurated in 1652, with a project attributed to the military engineer and architect Sebastião Pereira de Frias, according to the epigraphic inscription originally on a tombstone over the gate of the cistern-tower:

"D. João IV reigning in Portugal and sending the arms of Prince D. Theodósio, and the arms of Setúbal and his party Nunes da Cunha, this fortress of São Theodósio was destined, being Captain Major Francisco de Mattos Machado, vervedores the judge of other than Francisco Salgado de Moraes, Manoel Carvalho de Vargas, Manoel Farto do Olival, António Martins da Silva, Engineer Sebastião Pereira de Frias, Year 1652." Prince D. Teodósio died the following year, three years before the sovereign.

It suffered damage from the 1755 earthquake.

In the 19th century, it was garrisoned and equipped with artillery at the time of the Peninsular War, during the first French invasion under the command of General Junot (1807-08). Abandoned by the garrison in 1822, it was garrisoned again later during the Liberal Wars.

Only in 1895 did work begin to install the current lighthouse, in the so-called Battery Alta, starting to operate the following year, signaling the entrance to the port of Sesimbra.

In the last quarter of the 20th century, at the request of the Directorate-General for Lighthouses, reconstruction and adaptation works were carried out by the Directorate-General for National Buildings and Monuments (DGEMN) (1976). Considered a Property of Public Interest by Decree n°95/78, published on September 12, 1978, new recovery and improvement works were carried out in 1981-1983, 1986 and 1991.

Currently assigned to the Ministry of National Defense (Portuguese Navy), its premises are used as the lighthouse keeper's residence.

Characteristics

Fort of São Teodósio da Ponta do Cavalo: view from the gate This maritime fortification, built in stone and brick masonry, has an irregular polygonal plan, in the Mannerist style.

Accessed by a simple, full-turn gate, inside the Plaza de Armas stands a circular tower with a terrace. It is flanked by recent buildings, where the lighthouse keeper currently lives.

At the ends, there are two bulwarks with sloped walls, where gunboats were originally located. In the salient angle to the west there is a prismatic guardhouse.

The fortification originally extended to the east. This section of the building was destroyed during the construction of the shelter port and the respective road that gives access to it.

Of the old dependencies of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, now in ruins on the perimeter of the fort, only the image of the patron saint remains, in polychrome wood, transferred at the end of the 19th century to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Castelo (Sesimbra).