Fort of Pessegueiro Island

History

There are still visible on the island of Pessegueiro enormous blocks cut from the rocks of the island, and sunk in the waters around it. Similarly, there have been discovered various tanks for salting fish, that were used during the early Roman occupation of the region. These tanks were used in the salting and processing of fish, which was traded and transported to Rome.

In 1588, Terzi began the planning for a fort on the island, as part of a project to construct an artificial port that would link the island to the coast (then approved by cardinal Alberto, the vice-King). Alexandre Massay substituted Terzi in 1590, beginning the construction of the port, while work on the artificial port continued. The construction was interrupted in 1598, when Massay was transferred to Vila Nova de Milfontes, to begin work on the construction of a fort to defend the inlet to the River Mira.

Construction began once again in 1603, but were interrupted shortly later. It is unclear, but construction on the island was likely completed between 1661 and 1690, although the fort and artificial port remained incomplete.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake was responsible for damage to the chapel, and the batteries over the casemates.

Architecture

The Fort of Pessegueiro Island dominates the beach and coast of Pessegueiro, an area of southern Porto Covo. The island and fort are located opposite another fort, referred to as the Fort of Pessegueiro.

Of the fort that remains on the island, the existing structure exists in ruins. It is a star-shaped fort, consisting of four symmetrical, triangular bulwarks and with casemates in the central part of the fortification. On the opposite end of the main entrance is a hermitage, dedicated to Santo Alberto (Portuguese: Ermida de Santo Alberto).

The fort was part of group that included an artificial port, defended by a breakwater also connected the island to the rocky outcroppings to the north of the island: the Penedo do Cavalo.