Fort of Santiago da Barra - Viana do Castelo

King Afonso III of Portugal (1248-1279) founded the city of Viana and granted it a charter in 1258, which was later confirmed in 1262. With a view to the defense and development of that stretch of coast, by promoting commercial and fishing activities, the inhabitants were granted tax benefits, with the duty to defend the mouth of the Lima River.

Around 1500 the Torre da Roqueta was built. From 1568 a small rectangular fort was built next to the tower.

During the Philippine Dynasty , under the reign of Philip I of Portugal (1580–1598), the fortress of Viana was completely rebuilt and enlarged . Construction began in 1589, with the monarch ordering the city's own population to transport the stones needed for the building, which was completed in 1596.

It was rebuilt again between 1652 and 1654 as part of the Restoration War.

Later, in the 1700s, when the city flourished due to the export of wines from the Douro region, the defences were extended with revelins and a moat on the landward side. In 1799, new fortification and modernisation works were carried out.

Until 1978 it served as a military barracks. In 2021 it became the headquarters of Turismo Porto e Norte.

The Fortress of Santiago has a pentagonal plan , consisting of walls with a trapezoidal profile , reinforced by triangular bastions at the apexes facing the land, with guardhouses with a circular plan at the apexes. Access to the fortress is via a wide bridge over the moat that surrounds it, which leads to a portal with a round arch flanked by pilasters, surmounted by the coat of arms of D. João de Sousa, governor of the fortress in 1700, and crowned on the cornice by the coat of arms of Portugal.

willem vandenameele