The ruins
On the island.
Graziela Ramos Venson — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Andréa Farias Farias from Brasília, Brasil — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Renê Rachadel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renê Rachadel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Luiz Vianna — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sintegrity — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sanjayfm — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Araçatuba is a fort on a small island at the southern entrance to the Santa Catarina Island channel, in today's Palhoça, south of Florianópolis. It was designed and built by Brigadier José da Silva Pais, the first governor of Santa Catarina, as the last piece of the island's defences in the first half of the 18th century. Work began in 1742 and was probably finished about two years later; armed with ten Portuguese and Dutch guns, it closed the southern entrance to the bay, completing the triangle of forts at the northern entrance, Anhatomirim, Ratones and Ponta Grossa, as part of a plan to secure Portugal's hold on southern Brazil. It also served as a prison. The fort has been listed as national heritage since 1980 but remains in ruins despite stabilisation and restoration works. Access is restricted: it can be seen from the lighthouse at Naufragados beach at the southern tip of Florianópolis island, or check local boats before going.
On the island.
Viewpoint.
18th century.
Araçatuba Island, southern entrance to the Santa Catarina Island channel
Access is restricted; it is usually seen from the Naufragados lighthouse.
