The ramparts
On a small island.
Rodbats — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andre Ferreira Rodrigues — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andre Ferreira Rodrigues — CC BY-SA 4.0
Santa Cruz Fortress is a Portuguese fort on the small island of Anhatomirim at the northern entrance to the channel between Santa Catarina Island and the mainland; the island's name in Tupi means little devil's island. It was built between 1739 and 1744 as the lead point of a triangle of three forts guarding the North Bay, by soldiers, enslaved Africans and Indigenous people. In the invasion of 1777 it surrendered to the Spanish fleet without a fight, with only two soldiers left inside, and returned to Portugal by treaty. It was decommissioned in 1937 and listed as a national monument the following year; the Federal University of Santa Catarina then restored it and has opened it to visitors since 1984. Today it has the barracks, the gateway, powder stores and ramparts, and a small marine aquarium. It is visited on schooner trips from Canasvieiras beach or the city waterfront, which often pass a bay where dolphins live; the trip price does not include the fortress fee or lunch. Bring cash for entry.
On a small island.
And the dolphins' bay.
From the 18th century.
Anhatomirim Island, at the northern entrance to the Santa Catarina channel
No. The R$20 fortress fee is paid in cash at the entrance, and lunch is extra too.