The C17th Fortaleza de Santa Catarina that sits above Praia da Rocha in Portimão has come under attack by the Left Bloc which is appalled at the state of the historic building.
A draft resolution has been presented that recommends to the government that the building, which for centuries has commanded the entrance to Portimão, is repaired and put to some better use than currently.
The Left Bloc MPs say the state of degradation of the monument can not be allowed to continue and that the fort currently is a public danger as well as "conveying an image that is not favorable to the nationally renowned tourist resort of Praia da Rocha."
The MPs urge the government to take the necessary action to rescue and repair this monument, which has languished under the Ports of Sines and the Algarve management, and before that the local ports authority, so that once again the fort can become a dignified, valued and pleasant building to visit.
The Fortaleza de Santa Catarina de Ribamar, better known as Miradouro de Santa Catarina, is located at the eastern end of the Praia da Rocha strip. The fort was built in the reign of Philip III, some say earlier, to command the Arade river entrance and to defend the local population from pirates and privateers, as well as military invasions, in tandem with the Fortaleza São João do Arade on the opposite bank in Ferragudo.
In 1946 the property was handed to the Municipal Commission for Tourism of Portimão and from 1960 onwards, having being occupied variously by the maritime and fiscal police, the fort was fixed up and transformed into a tourist spot with a kiosk, a bar-terrace and a restaurant.
The Fortaleza de Santa Catarina is now owned by the State but is not included in the new 'Revive' programme that encourages business involvement in historic buildings in return for a temptingly long lease. The fort is run by the Sines ports authority, but not for long as the Algarve’s mayors are soon to take over the management of the region’s ports in a welcome devolvement by government.
The Ports of Sines and the Algarve management says that the fort has been the subject of a conservation proposal to stabilise the eastern walls and the National Civil Engineering Laboratory is deciding how best to rescue the building as the engineering involved is said to be complex.
The council wants to have control over the fort as long, presumably as long as someone else pays for it to be fixed up.
A Dutch entrepreneur living in the area has offered to renovate the public spaces to re-launch a cafe, museum and toilet facilities but while the future management control remains unclear, it is unlikely that a solid deal can be done in the immediate future despite the willingness of the local council.
For a view of the fort:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-FifhpOnywkbFg5a1JuemU4T3M/view
The Left Bloc MP supporting this parliamentary petition are:
João Vasconcelos, Pedro Filipe Soares, Jorge Costa, Mariana Mortágua, Pedro Soares, Isabel Pires, José Moura Soeiro, Heitor de Sousa, Sandra Cunha, Domicilia Costa, Jorge Campos, Jorge Falcato Simões, Carlos Matias, Joana Mortágua, José Manuel Pureza, Luís Monteiro, Moisés Ferreira, Paulino Ascenção, Catarina Martins.
The petition, in Portuguese, is at:
PROJETO DE RESOLUÇÃO Nº 585/XIII/2.ª
The first 30 Revive buildings on the government list can be viewed at:
Comments
We also offer a space for an office, Turismo de Portugal, Praia da Rocha, which may be accessible seven days a week to the public.
Sanitary facilities with access for people with disabilities.
Improving facilities for visitors to the church at the Ermitage.
Adjustments to the WiFi reception to the public from Fortaleza.
Improve safety by monitoring and occupancy of the Fort.
These are only just a few examples of our plans for the preservation of the monument, by my company Novo Castelo Invest, which can be co-financed which also provides additional employment. I keep you first inquire through your journal about these plans as a starting point a rapid opening of the cafeteria / Pasteleria Fortaleza and the adjustments mentioned above for the benefit of all visitors to the Monument.
I will keep everyone informed through social media with photos, videos, drawings and a forum for future developments, such as a dedicated Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/FortalezaSantaCatarina
as "Friends of Fortaleza." All information and photos are welcome in the past.
Sincerely,
Novo Castelo Invest
Hendrik Philippus Wijmans of Nieuwkasteele
Fortalezasantacatarina
Mobile 965795646
Mr Carlos Abade, a member of the Office of Tourism Portugal and Mr. João Franco APS in Sines, Dra.Isilda Gomes, Mayor of Portimão and Tourism President of Portugal, Mr. Luís Araújo, were very enthusiastic during the visit in in August 2016 and are convinced of the need to preserve the fort for further degradation.
Dra.Isilda Gomes on behalf of the Municipality only now able to make decisions that lead to a rapid approach of the restoration. Pending the granting of the Portuguese Government, to join the Revive program, I would like to now get the opportunity to provide service to those who visit daily, even in winter Fortaleza.
Despite the low number of visitors during the winter months, I want 365 days a year, the cafeteria / Pasteleria, opened in 2017 by Novo Castelo investments.