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🏛️ Culture

Fortaleza de São Tiago

🏘️ Funchal · Santa Maria Maior · Funchal

The fortress that guarded the old town's seafront against corsairs. Its construction began around 1614 under Jerónimo Jorge, the royal master builder, and was completed by his son Bartolomeu João. Renovated several times, it served as headquarters for British troops and the Army police, as shelter for the victims of the 1803 flood, then from 1992 to 2015 housed the contemporary-art museum, since moved to Casa das Mudas (Calheta). A journey through the island's history, with a privileged view over the Atlantic.

  • Early 17th century (1614)
  • Old town
  • Shelter in the 1803 flood
  • Former contemporary-art museum
GPS
32.64684, -16.89850
🧭 Getting there
The place stands in the locality of Funchal, parish of Santa Maria Maior (Funchal).
🅿️ Parking
The nearest car park is Parque Almirante Reis, 461 m away.
🗺️ See it on the map🧭 Go there
Good to know about Fortaleza de São Tiago1

  • 1566 — The corsairs — Attack on Funchal; the nuns take refuge at Curral das Freiras

    The nuns of the Santa Clara convent fled to the valley invisible from the sea that would take their name. The belt of forts that followed — Palácio de São Lourenço (16th c.), Fortaleza de São Tiago (1614), São José (18th c.), São Bento at Ribeira Brava (1708), Reis Magos and Fortim do Faial (18th c.) — answered these raids.

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