The historic Tapirandú Fortress: from portal to fort

Among all the fortresses in Brazil, Tapirandú definitely needs special attention. It is the first point you see upon arrival at Morro de São Paulo and is worth a visit.

History

In 1630, the “Forte Velho” was first built using stones and whale oil at the behest of governor Diogo Luís de Oliveira. Its location had strategic importance for the defense of colonial Brazil, especially as it was part of the main supply route to the capital. In this way, the fortress served as protection both against invaders from the Tinharé archipelago and the Baía de Todos os Santos.

Later, in 1728, the Count of Sabugosa ordered the construction of the “New Fort of Ponta”, with the aim of expanding the fortification. Thus, at this moment the Fort's entrance portico and the walls that connect the portico to the Old Fort appeared, forming the Tapirandú Fortress, with a total length of 678 meters.

The Morro de São Paulo Fortress was listed by IPHAN (Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage) in 1938, as it is one of the most important military monuments in Brazil and has architectural and historical relevance. Its last renovation took place from 2010 to 2018 and, currently, the Fort is under the administration of IPAC (Institute of Artistic Cultural Heritage of Bahia).

Visit

Currently, the fortress receives many foreigners and Brazilians from other states, however without battles this time! On the contrary, the Fort is Morro de São Paulo's calling card and welcomes all visitors.

The Portico is also known as Portal de Morro de São Paulo, or Portaló, and is a mandatory passage for everyone arriving via the Morro de São Paulo pier. The route along the walls, between Portaló and the Old Fort, has the sea on the left and the forest on the right, making it a light and pleasant walk to the main structure of the fortification. Once there, visitors can take beautiful photos of this historical heritage. Furthermore, there is also a beautiful little-known beach just behind the Fort, it is worth checking out.

Finally, did you know that the best point to see the sunset is there? Definitely, in addition to being a super calm and easily accessible place, it has one of the best views.

Tips

• To go to Morro de São Paulo, buy your ticket from our virtual store!
• If you want to know more about Morro de São Paulo, visit our post A paradise to be visited and discover much more about the island.
• Finally, also access our Instagram. Follow the latest news about tourism in Morro de São Paulo and our daily crossing schedule: @ilhabelatmssa

Illustrative images created with AI.