Fort of Greta (Horta)
Encyclopedia
The Fort of Greta is a medieval fortification, whose remnants are located on the cinder cone of Monte da Guia, along the southern coast of the civil parish of Angústias
, in Horta
, island of Faial
, in the Portuguese
Azores
.
across the channel from Faial.
In the 20th century, with the opening of a roadway on Monte da Guia, parts of the fortification were demolished, in order to allow accessibility to the hermitage and communications equipment on its peak. The remains of the fort are actually in ruins: all but the original wall stone remains. In the 1950s, within the walls of the redoubt
, the Portuguese government constructed a pair of elevated platforms in order to install maritime radar lookouts. The two-stage platforms occupy the interior courtyard of the redoubt.
The space was integrated into the Protected Landscape of Monte da Guia ( under regional decree 1/80/A, on 31 January 1980. It is classified as a property of public interest under the regional legislation on patrimony and culture, 13/84/A (31 March 1984) and under paragraph 4, of article 58, of the Regional Decree 29/2004/A (24 August 1984).
The design follows the irregular polygon-design of most forts, although many of the structures have been subsumed by erosion, debris and re-purposing by successive administrations. Much of the defensive plan has been superseded by early 20th century constructs, such as the double-platform radar observation towers and small buildings used to shelter military officers.
Angústias
Angústias is one of the three civil parishes that form the city of Horta, on the island of Faial in the archipelago of the Azores. This is an economically active, densely-populated area with the second-smallest area , but with the largest population in the municipality of Horta...
, in Horta
Horta (Azores)
Horta is a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipealgo of the Azores, encompassing the island of Faial. Horta has a population of about approximately 15,038 people and an area of 173.1 square kilometers. The population density is about 88 persons per square kilometer...
, island of Faial
Faial Island
Faial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
, in the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.
History
Its construction was initiated in 1666, to compliment the coastal defenses of the city of Horta, which at the time, was always under the threat of marauding pirates and privateers, as well as British, French and Spanish forces. It worked in conjunction with a similar fortification in the area of Areia Larga, on the island of PicoPico Island
Pico Island , is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge...
across the channel from Faial.
In the 20th century, with the opening of a roadway on Monte da Guia, parts of the fortification were demolished, in order to allow accessibility to the hermitage and communications equipment on its peak. The remains of the fort are actually in ruins: all but the original wall stone remains. In the 1950s, within the walls of the redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
, the Portuguese government constructed a pair of elevated platforms in order to install maritime radar lookouts. The two-stage platforms occupy the interior courtyard of the redoubt.
The space was integrated into the Protected Landscape of Monte da Guia ( under regional decree 1/80/A, on 31 January 1980. It is classified as a property of public interest under the regional legislation on patrimony and culture, 13/84/A (31 March 1984) and under paragraph 4, of article 58, of the Regional Decree 29/2004/A (24 August 1984).
Architecture
Erected on the eastern flank of the Monte da Guia, in a dominant position over the Bay of Horta, and integrated into the medieval defensive system against pirates in the channel. It was built from masonry stone and volcanic rock: its most obvious extent is visible in the dozen canon battlements that face the island of Pico.The design follows the irregular polygon-design of most forts, although many of the structures have been subsumed by erosion, debris and re-purposing by successive administrations. Much of the defensive plan has been superseded by early 20th century constructs, such as the double-platform radar observation towers and small buildings used to shelter military officers.