Santa Catarina Fort (Cabo da Praia) – Terceira Island

The Santa Catarina Fort is located in the parish of Cabo da Praia, municipality of Praia da Vitória, on the western coast of Terceira Island. This fortification, situated at the western tip of the Praia da Vitória bay, was built in the 16th century to combat the frequent attacks by pirates.

The Fort is the last of nine forts built to protect the Praia da Vitória bay and the main one in the defensive line. It significantly contributed to the struggle against the Castilians and in the Portuguese Civil War.

(C) Explore Terceira

Today, it is classified as a Property of Public Interest, by Resolution No. 28/80, of April 29.

Characteristics

The Santa Catarina Fort occupies an area of 713 square meters and is a beautiful example of military architecture. Its polygonal plan adapts to the terrain and features a gate defended by a guardhouse.

(C) Carlos Luís M. C. da Cruz

At the entrance, there was a cobbled ramp guarded by eleven gunports covering the entire bay. A row of low houses used for the garrison was located to the left of the entrance.

The forts were interconnected by trenches that were eventually destroyed by marine erosion.

History

The Fort was built between 1567 and 1581 as part of a defense plan for Terceira Island devised by the architect and engineer Tommaso Benedetto. The French, commanded by the pirate Caldeira, had plundered the island of Madeira and aimed to do the same on Terceira Island but were repelled.

The construction plan for the Fort followed the orders of Sebastião I, King of Portugal, and was reinforced by the corregidor, Ciprião de Figueiredo e Vasconcelos. It was first mentioned in 1583 in two documents related to the occupation by D. Álvaro de Bazán.

In the 17th century, the Santa Catarina Fort suffered serious damage due to the earthquake of 1614 and intense marine erosion. It was also heavily damaged during the Portuguese Civil War, where it endured over four hours of artillery fire from three ships.

Between 1800 and 1801, it underwent repairs after the earthquakes recorded in Praia. It was garrisoned during World War II and repaired by the Engineering Services of the Ministry of War.

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Curiosities

Interventions Made

With the construction of the commercial port of Cabo da Praia, some repairs were made to the Santa Catarina Fort. The resources were secured by the “LEADER II Community Initiative Program” in the 1980s.

The repair of the curtains and gunports ensures the preservation of the Fort but at the same time ends up altering its character.

In 2010, the Fort underwent architectural and archaeological surveys, coordinated by archaeologist Ricardo Erasun Cortés and under the responsibility of the Regional Directorate of Culture of the Azores Government. Based on the analysis of its structures, the construction stages from 1772 were confirmed as per the account:

“a fort with an ‘L’ shaped plan, smaller than the current one, with gunports open to the sea (east) and to the beach (north), a ramp leading to the arms courtyard in the more protected area to the west, and a triangular-shaped magazine.”

Location on the Map

Video

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Currently, the Santa Catarina Fort is occupied by the League of Combatants of Terceira Island. It is a monument of the cultural heritage of Terceira Island of invaluable historical value.

More about the Santa Catarina Fort and its history:

• Açorian Encyclopedia
• Forts