Historical recreation with thousands of visitors
S. Pedro helped with the good weather. Thousands of people visited the venue where another edition of “Os Piratas” took place, in the area surrounding the Nossa Senhora das Neves Fort, in Leça da Palmeira.
This historical recreation, organized by the Municipality of Matosinhos since 2012, came to an end yesterday. Many were those who visited the taverns to taste the typical delicacies of that time, visit the numerous craft stalls and watch, as a family, the brawls between pirates, acrobatics and dances, in a fun journey to the 18th century.
Also noteworthy are the “piracy” activities carried out by the Educational Service on the premises and the guided tours of the Nossa Senhora das Neves Fort, of a bastioned type with a four-pointed star plan, protected by sloping walls and projecting guardhouses. After the restoration of independence in 1640, and given the need to defend our coasts from Spanish and privateer attacks, a series of forts were built by the sea.
The Fort of Nossa Senhora das Neves was built in Leça da Palmeira, which, together with the forts of S. João da Foz and S. Francisco Xavier (Castelo do Queijo), formed part of the defense line of the city of Porto.
The beginning of its construction dates from 1651, thus replacing another older and smaller fort, not far from there, whose construction had begun in 1638. Having lost its military function, the Alfândega do Porto was installed there in 1844 and , in 1899, the secretary of the Port of Leixões. Today it is the headquarters of the captaincy of that port. It is classified as a Property of Public Interest by Decree 44075 DG 281 of December 5, 1961.
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