A fortress off the West coast of Portugal that dates back to 1502.
The Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas is located on the largest island of the archipelago of the Berlengas, in the municipality of Peniche in the Oeste region. The fortification belonged to a group of defensive military structures meant to protect the municipality located on the coast.
The Berlengas archipelago is a marine reserve and has been classified by the Council of Europe as a “Biosphere Reserve”. The archipelago consists of a large island, Berlenga Grande, and some small granite islands and rocks (Estelas, Farilhões and Forcadas), situated some 7 miles off the headland of Cabo Carvoeiro to the north-west of Peniche, Leiria, Portugal.
King Manuel of Portugal ordered the construction of a fortress on Berlenga Grande in 1502, which was immediately rectified under the reign of King Sebastian of Portugal. The fort was constructed from the remains of a pre-existing monastery (the Monastery of the Misericórdia da Berlenga), which had previously been abandoned.
In the early 16th century, Hieronymite monks had, decided that the Berlengas were well situated to provide aid for seafaring people in need of shelter. The islands isolation also provided ideal conditions for the monks to live in austerity through solitude and silence, assiduous prayer and healthy penance. But, the monks became victims of frequent attacks by Algerian, Moroccan, English, and French pirates and privateers. Further, violent weather often cut off communication to the mainland, which was especially distressing during pirate incursions, as result, the Monastery was abandoned.
The fort is located in the waters off the southeastern coast of Berlenga Grande, on a small islet connected to the island by a causeway/arch-bridge and anchorage to the north.
The structure is an irregular octagon, longer from north to south, with a similarly irregular rectangular structure on this base covered in paved terraces, with a slight incline two-storey walls serve as both defence and narrow enclosed corridors that circuit its perimeter, broken by several arched windows on the northern and western facades. Meanwhile, the southern and eastern facades are broken by an irregular curtain of cannon embrasures.
The structures on the exterior wall functioned as the casemates, while the central body functioned as the armoury.
Know Before You Go
The fort itself is located in the Berlengas archipelago which can be reached by boat from Peniche, Portugal. Once on Berlenga Grande, another boat will take you to the fortress where you can stay and explore or you can walk there and back, or even rent a room at the hostel that is now run out of the fortress.
There is a restaurant and a cafe on the island, both of which are cash only so be prepared. You can also pack a picnic if you’re day-tripping from Peniche.
On windy days, the trip over can be quite rough. There are opportunities to swim in crystal clear water there so you may want to pack a bathing suit as well.
