Open tothe public No Built 1820 | Condition Abandoned | |
In use 1820-early 20th century People also search for Santa Isabel, Praia da Chave, Chaves Beach | ||
Forte Duque de Bragança or Forte de Sal Rei is an abandoned fort located on Ilhéu de Sal Rei off the northwestern coast of the island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde. The fort was named after the then Duke of Bragança.
History
The fort overlooks a stretch of coast where the anchorage required defending from piracy and coastal raiding, which were common in the Atlantic Ocean at the time. The island exported salt, woad, cotton, cattle, lime and ceramics, and because of its wealth, was sacked in 1815 and 1817; this led to the construction of a fort in 1820.
Today in ruins, the fort has been partly archaeologically excavated by the University of Cambridge. The port's sea wall lies west of the fort and in 2009 was lengthened to extend nearly halfway to the nearest small island.