Die einst mächtige Festung Santa Catarina, die über Portimão an der Mündung des Flusses Arade wacht, liegt heute in Trümmern, bewahrt jedoch einen Großteil ihrer früheren Größe, wobei die Vorhangmauern aus Stein und Ziegeln noch weitgehend intakt sind.
Die Seefestung von Portimão wurde im 17. Jahrhundert von Alexandre Massai erbaut, um den Hafen vor Piraten und Eindringlingen zu schützen. Heute dient sie als fotogene Kulisse für den Sandstrand Praia da Rocha. Erkunden Sie die Kapelle im Inneren, die der heiligen Katharina von Alexandria gewidmet ist, oder gehen Sie bei Sonnenuntergang dorthin, um einen atemberaubenden Blick entlang der Küste zu genießen.
Santa Catarina Fortress is a common stop-off for sightseers in Praia da Rocha, offering an appealing viewpoint from which to soak up the coastal scenery. Many beachgoers come here for a leisurely stroll around the site. Some sightseeing tours of Central Algarve stop at Praia da Rocha, allowing visitors to explore the fortress, before venturing to nearby destinations such as Alvor and Ferragudo. The fort can also be seen from the Arade River estuary and the ocean during boat tours departing from Marina Portimão.
The fortress is situated at the east end of Praia da Rocha, overlooking the marina and mere steps from the beach. Buses run between the center of Portimão and Praia da Rocha.
Santa Catarina Fortress is best visited on a clear, sunny day as this is when the views are at their peak. For an extra special experience, get up early and head to the fort to watch the sunrise over the beach, which is usually empty until the arrival of early-bird sunbathers.
The Santa Catarina Fortress is the partner fort of the Castle of Arade, which sits on the opposite bank of the River Arade in Ferragudo. Together, the two towers were designed to defend Portimão from privateers and military invasions. The Castle of Arade is privately owned, but it’s worth heading to one of the two beaches it abuts—Praia da Angrinha and the Praia Grande—to view it from the outside.