Fortress of St. Philip

Why was the Fortress built?

The Old Town has been, for some centuries, a strategic point with regard to stopovers crossing the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and South America; an important point of exchange of products; and a slave trade site.
Given these factors, the City came to be disputed by Portuguese, Spanish, English and Dutch. It was destroyed several times. And the fortress was erected with a view to having a better defense of the place.

Why visit?

Scenario that allows you to relive history

Strategically erected on top of the mountain, allowing a greater field of vision, the fort is the lookout point, which allowed the Old City to be prepared to fight in the event of hostile visitors, or to receive its allies in the case of friendly visits.

The Fort itself is quite simple: a building, with stone fortification around it, in the open, and with little inside, except for a few paths, where the yellow earth with saffron color is also bounded by stone. It has a small building (which looks like a bunker) in its center.
Still inside, in the background, some ancient cannons are positioned as a sign of defense, as if they were still waiting for an enemy trying to take the City.
Thus, the brain is invited to imagine an entire scenario, traveling in time, imagining the approach of the ships, and all the reaction that the City would have, in different situations.

A Wonderful View

Given its location the view of the fort is wonderful. In front of the skyline and looking down, the Old Town, in a bay.
Don’t miss the Fortress of St. Philip on your visit to Santiago Island in Cape Verde.