The Arrifana Fortress was built in 1635 by order of the Governor of the Kingdom of the Algarve and Captain-Mor, D. Gonçalo Coutinho.
The purpose of the fortress was to defend the western coast of the Algarve, the bay of Arrifana and an almadrava (tuna fishing trap) that had been in place since 1516.
It consisted of two elements connected through a small gorge. At its entrance were the guardhouse, the barracks and the weapons magazine. At the entrance door was placed a tombstone with the date of construction of the fortress, as well as a National Shield and the Coutinhos Coat of Arms.
A plan of the fortress is known, where you can see the weaponry, the corridor (gorge) and the accommodations. The earthquake of 1755 completely ruined the fortress, leaving only the battery and the walled curtain of the entrance door.
In 1762 it was rebuilt but again damaged in the winter of 1765, this time by a violent storm and by sea.
In 1771 repair works were carried out to make the fort operational.
There are no known works in the Fortress of Arrifana after 1792.
In 1796 it still had the two pieces of artillery, but from 1815 onward the official reports made to the Fortress of Arrifana, namely in 1821, 1840, 1849 and 1861, indicate only the existence of the remains of the entrance walls.
The fort was abandoned for several decades, until in 1944, more than three centuries after its construction, the old Filipino fort was rehabilitated again.
The purpose of the fortress was to defend the western coast of the Algarve, the bay of Arrifana and an almadrava (tuna fishing trap) that had been in place since 1516.
It consisted of two elements connected through a small gorge. At its entrance were the guardhouse, the barracks and the weapons magazine. At the entrance door was placed a tombstone with the date of construction of the fortress, as well as a National Shield and the Coutinhos Coat of Arms.
A plan of the fortress is known, where you can see the weaponry, the corridor (gorge) and the accommodations. The earthquake of 1755 completely ruined the fortress, leaving only the battery and the walled curtain of the entrance door.
In 1762 it was rebuilt but again damaged in the winter of 1765, this time by a violent storm and by sea.
In 1771 repair works were carried out to make the fort operational.
There are no known works in the Fortress of Arrifana after 1792.
In 1796 it still had the two pieces of artillery, but from 1815 onward the official reports made to the Fortress of Arrifana, namely in 1821, 1840, 1849 and 1861, indicate only the existence of the remains of the entrance walls.
The fort was abandoned for several decades, until in 1944, more than three centuries after its construction, the old Filipino fort was rehabilitated again.
The place where this fortress is located is a magnificent natural viewpoint over Praia da Arrifana and the Costa Vicentina.
Photo credits: Aljezur Municipality
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