GAMP Discussion - “Maritime Fortresses of the Algarve in the 17th Century”

GAMP – Friends of the Portimão Museum Group promotes the last discussion of 2026 on Saturday, 7 November, at 17:00, in the Meeting Room of the Portimão Museum.

Under the theme “Maritime Fortresses of the Algarve in the 17th Century”, the session will be led by professor and researcher Valdemar Coutinho, author of various studies on the historical and cultural heritage of the Algarve.

The discussion will analyse the reasons for the high number of maritime fortresses built during this period along the Algarve coastline, a significant heritage in the history of a region situated on the route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

Due to this context, the Algarve has historically been much more exposed to frequent incursions by European pirates and privateers, Berbers, and Turks than the western coastal strip, particularly because the Algarve coast had many easy landing spots, which endangered both the lives of the population and their property. The solution found to ensure the defence of the territory was the construction of maritime fortresses equipped to effectively repel these attacks.

In the 17th century, the dangers were so severe and frequent that in 1618, Philip II of Portugal (III of Spain) hired the Italian architect Alexandre Massai to study the situation of the maritime fortresses and ensure the desired security. The study was delivered in 1622, titled “Description of the Kingdom of the Algarve”, which contained suggestions for the construction of new fortresses and improvements to existing ones, which were realised in some cases.

The discussion is part of the “Museums for All” project, developed by GAMP since 2024, with the support of the Cultural Unit of CCDR Algarve, the Museum, and the Municipality of Portimão. The project aims to foster greater interaction and inclusion, expanding contact with the history and cultural heritage of the Algarve's museums and monuments.