Fortaleza de Santa Catarina
Fortaleza de Santa Catarina
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
66 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
27
Average
21
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Amy W
42 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
I love to see the places that we are staying. Not just the bars and restaurants but learning of its history. Whilst this castle is small, it does offer some history. I would recommend staying at the top and then using the stairs to go down to the boardwalk on the beach to walk back. Even venturing in to some of the bars along the way. It’s certainly a lovely way to relax.
Written 1 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keefnjojo
Plymouth, UK2,329 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Great little castle with fantastic views over the harbour and beach, there is a little bit of history to see and of course a cannon for pictures.
There are very clean public toilets that are free to use.
There are very clean public toilets that are free to use.
Written 12 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
starlightShanghai
Victoria, Canada4,609 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
One of the two major viewpoints in Praia da Rocha, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is now just a ghost of its former self. It was obviously once a fortress, given its geographical vantage point. And, of course the cannon on an upper deck suggests it was a defensive structure.
Not much information available on this place. There’s no ‘mini museum’ - unless it was all boarded up and hidden during low season. No information boards that I could see.
The arches leading onto the upper deck are quite picturesque, but much of the structure has been ruined by ugly graffiti, so prevalent everywhere else in Praia da Rocha.
So what’s to see from this particular viewpoint?
1. There’s the very pretty marina, with its ochre and terracotta residences fronted by various types of moored sailing craft.
2. It’s a good location to see where the River Arade runs into the Atlantic Ocean.
3. One can see - and access - the long, long strip leading to one of the old lighthouses. The old lighthouse is farther away than it looks.
4. And, off to the west, there’s the hideously ugly Praia da Rocha beach, cluttered with dozens of ugly restaurants, pizza joints, a worn-out boardwalk, and - worst of all - endless shacks of beach ‘essentials’ to assist in summer’s manufactured fun. (Shacks - boarded up during low season - occur every few metres and seem to be anchored into the sand itself. What an absolute blight on the beach landscape!) It’s one of the ugliest beaches I’ve ever seen. Can’t even begin to compare to the pristine beaches in neighbouring Lagos!
5. Could be an ok place to watch the sunrise, if you can ignore all the commercial clutter around.
Word of caution: watch out for the heaps of doggy-doo. Somehow I would have thought there’d be some kind of municipal bylaw requiring owners to clean up after their dogs, but apparently not.
One visit is probably enough.
Not much information available on this place. There’s no ‘mini museum’ - unless it was all boarded up and hidden during low season. No information boards that I could see.
The arches leading onto the upper deck are quite picturesque, but much of the structure has been ruined by ugly graffiti, so prevalent everywhere else in Praia da Rocha.
So what’s to see from this particular viewpoint?
1. There’s the very pretty marina, with its ochre and terracotta residences fronted by various types of moored sailing craft.
2. It’s a good location to see where the River Arade runs into the Atlantic Ocean.
3. One can see - and access - the long, long strip leading to one of the old lighthouses. The old lighthouse is farther away than it looks.
4. And, off to the west, there’s the hideously ugly Praia da Rocha beach, cluttered with dozens of ugly restaurants, pizza joints, a worn-out boardwalk, and - worst of all - endless shacks of beach ‘essentials’ to assist in summer’s manufactured fun. (Shacks - boarded up during low season - occur every few metres and seem to be anchored into the sand itself. What an absolute blight on the beach landscape!) It’s one of the ugliest beaches I’ve ever seen. Can’t even begin to compare to the pristine beaches in neighbouring Lagos!
5. Could be an ok place to watch the sunrise, if you can ignore all the commercial clutter around.
Word of caution: watch out for the heaps of doggy-doo. Somehow I would have thought there’d be some kind of municipal bylaw requiring owners to clean up after their dogs, but apparently not.
One visit is probably enough.
Written 22 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anke_kleefeld
Nuernberg175 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
You have a great view from the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina over the Beach of Praia da Rocha, the marina and over the Rio Arade to Ferragudo. If it's open you can have a cup of coffee in a little café in the fortaleza.
Written 10 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
belgianguy1
Bruges, Belgium13,370 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
This is a small historic fortress, in a strategic location, overlooking the harbour... there's no entry fee, but it's worth a short visit, there's an old canon, and the views over the beach and the marina are pretty good!
Written 3 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flossie241
Kildare, Ireland12 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
I first visited this area over 35 years ago. On each visit I climb the steps to the very very top, if you check you will see opposite the door to the Church that you can climb a few more steps to get to the very top.
For those who are not as fit as they would like to be there are a number of "landings" along the way where you can rest and catch your breath. The views from the top is spectacular and makes the climb all the more worthwhile. Great exercise and spectacular views of the marina and across the bay to Ferragudo.
For those who are not as fit as they would like to be there are a number of "landings" along the way where you can rest and catch your breath. The views from the top is spectacular and makes the climb all the more worthwhile. Great exercise and spectacular views of the marina and across the bay to Ferragudo.
Written 27 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinkle_24
Northampton, UK1,787 contributions
May 2023
with great views. Worth the climb up from Praia Rocha. Beautiful bougainvillea in full bloom with oleander at this time of year by the gateway,
Written 12 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinkle_24
Northampton, UK1,787 contributions
Nov 2022
of the beaches at Ferragudo and of Praia Rocha. Stairs lead down to the beach and looking up you can see the cliff where the fort was built. That was special.
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erika
Caracas, Venezuela9,917 contributions
Jun 2021
This is an iconic place of Portimão and you will pass by if you visit the beach, Unfourtunatelly, is not very well kept.
Written 14 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter b
Birmingham, UK807 contributions
Oct 2019
This is at the marina end of Praia de Roche. The top piece is wheelchair accessable but not after that - a lot of stairs down. There is just the shell of the castle with a couple of cannons and a well.
Written 8 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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