Forte Duque de Bragança

Forte Duque de Bragança Forte de Ilhéu de Sal Rei
Ilhéu de Sal Rei near Sal Rei in Cape Verde
Forte de Ilhéu de Sal Rei
Coordinates	16.1333°N 22.9333°W / 16.1333; -22.9333
Site information
Controlled by	Portuguese Empire (1820-early 20th century)
Open to the public	No
Condition	Abandoned
Site history
Built	1820
In use	1820-early 20th century

Forte Duque de Bragança or Forte de Sal Rei is an abandoned fort located on Ilhéu de Sal Rei off the northwestern coast of the island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde. The fort was named after the then Duke of Bragança.

History

The fort overlooks a stretch of coast where the anchorage required defending from piracy and coastal raiding, which were common in the Atlantic Ocean at the time. The island exported salt, woad, cotton, cattle, lime and ceramics, and because of its wealth, was sacked in 1815 and 1817; this led to the construction of a fort in 1820.

Today in ruins, the fort has been partly archaeologically excavated by the University of Cambridge. The port's sea wall lies west of the fort and in 2009 was lengthened to extend nearly halfway to the nearest small island.

See also

• Portuguese Empire