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Santo António (or Rato) Fort

An example of military bastion architecture

The Santo António (or Rato) Fort was built in the 16th century at the order of King Sebastião (1557-1578) to defend the Barra de Tavira harbour entrance. It has three bastions facing south (towards the estuary and the harbour channel) and a single access door, facing north. Inside there are still traces of the old quarters for the soldiers who guarded this fort and the structures which housed the artillery pieces.
Militarily obsolete even before its completion, due to the eastward movement of the harbour entrance, Saint Anthony’s Fort maintained a small garrison until 1840, when it was abandoned.  
Freguesia: Tavira

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