Open to
the public Yes Built 1852 | Condition Renovated in 2009 In use 1852-1975 | |
 | ||
Controlled by Portuguese Empire (1852-1975) Similar Centro Nacional de Artesa, Laginha, Monte Cara, Monte Verde - Cape Ver, Estádio Municipal Adérito S | ||
Fortim d'El Rei (Portuguese Fortim do Rei meaning the King's Fort), also known as Fortim do Mindelo is the fort located north of Mindelo's city center in the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde and is located at the terminus of a street connecting Avenida Dr. Alberto Leite. To the west is the island's chief port and close by is Avenida Marginal. Up to the 1940s, the urban limits was southeast of the fort, as the population grew, it shifted to the northeast in the 1960s and north of the fortress in the 1970s and the 1980s.
History
The fort was built in 1852 and used as a defense of Porto Grande and the city of Mindelo. It was a garrison with artillery with seven pieces of iron which were smelted from London.
It was also used as a prison for much of the time, in 1970, the fortress went under restoration.
In 2009, the fort's touristic project started at low level, according to the sources done by the country's Ministry of Economy. Fortim Mindelo was nominated and aimed to requalify the old fortress into a transformation into a touristic complex and built nexto to Mindelo Bay. The project began at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and was completely sold.