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The Fortress of Santa Catarina de Ribamar (Portimão) as a Proposal for Good Practices of Military Heritage Preservation

2022; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-031-10800-6_10

2522-8722

Bruna Galamba,

Archaeological and Historical Studies

Early modern fortresses by the sea in Portugal are an historical mark of protection during the maritime expansion. Pirates and privateers were a constant threat to the economy and the safety of the populations who were targets. Nowadays, many of these fortresses have been requalified for tourism, especially in Oeiras and Cascais, near Lisbon, that have been blessed with investments and projects and, either by land or sea, can be visited or communicated by careful planning of circuits. In the Algarve region, many military buildings are lacking the same investment, projects and policies. The Fortress of Santa Catarina de Ribamar is a part of a much bigger defense system, that is rarely acknowledged, communicated and invested in, even if it is visited by many people, as it also represents a shortcut to the beach (Praia da Rocha). In the prior decades, the fortress has been mismanaged by many entities and had a small cafeteria and a restaurant that have been closed for a long time. Even though it has been a platform for a wine tasting festival in recent years, nothing else has been done in the location, either taking advantage from its history or the proximity to the beach. In 2016, it was included in a project of concession to private entities in exchange of requalification, as the fortress is in a state of abandonment and near ruin. In 2020, good news finally came to this historical landmark, as it might be managed by the municipality, that has longed for changes, a proper management and to communicate its story. This is a moment of transition and of planning. In virtue of a dissertation in Archaeology of Architecture, this fortress is being studied and will benefit from a project of requalification as a military building that accommodates heritage preservation and history and can promote tourism (not only in benefit of the visitor, but in benefit to the local community).