Country
Portugal
City / Region
Vila do Conde / Porto
Construction Date
Work began between 1570 and 1573, during the reign of D. Sebastião, but completion only occurred in 1642, during the reign of D. João IV. The need to protect the mouth of the Ave River, an important fishing port and shipyard, dated back to the Middle Ages. The long hiatus between the start and completion of construction (about 70 years) suggests significant interruptions, possibly linked to the succession crisis of 1580, the period of the Iberian Union, and the resumption of the project only in the context of the Restoration War, when coastal defense once again became a priority for the restored Portuguese crown.
Conservation status
Classified as Property of Public Interest (IIP). The structure was recovered in the 1990s and adapted into a hotel unit and space for social and cultural events. This adaptation, although preserving the external structure, led to the loss of many of the original characteristics of the interior spaces, illustrating the frequent dilemma between the integral conservation of military heritage and the need to find economically viable uses that may compromise internal historical authenticity.
Latitude and Longitude
41°20'30"N 8°45'06"W
Main characteristics
Property located northwest of the Ave River bar, next to Senhora da Guia beach. It has a star-shaped plan composed of five bastions surrounding a large interior parade ground. Three of the bastions have sentry boxes. The land-facing main gate features a perfect arch frame, above which is the coat of arms of Portugal. Inside, spaces that originally corresponded to casemates, the governor's house, kitchen, powder magazine, and remains of a chapel still exist.
Source(s)
MIRANDA, Marta. Vila do Conde. Lisboa: Editorial Presença, 1998.
NEVES, Joaquim Pacheco. Vila do Conde. Vila do Conde: [s.n.], 1991.
PROENÇA, Raul. Guia de Portugal. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 1983. v. 4, t. I: Entre Douro e Minho, Douro Litoral.
RIBEIRO, José António Salazar. Filipe Tércio. Ingegnere e Architetto em Portugal. 1577-1597. Porto: [s.n.], 2016. (Dissertação de mestrado).