The Fortress of São José da Ponta Grossa is located between the beaches of Forte and Jurerê, in the north of the island of Santa Catarina and 25 km from the city center of Florianópolis.

The fortress was built in 1740 to defend the North Bar of Santa Catarina Island, along with the Anhatomirim Fortress and the Santo Antonio Fortress.

As one of the vertices of the defensive triangle planned by Brigadier José da Silva Paes, the Fortress of São José da Ponta Grossa was completed in 1744 and is in a privileged position with an excellent view of the North Bay, standing at a point between the beaches of Jurerê and Pontal.

Its architecture is rich in constructive elements, distributed over three terraced levels.

In addition, these three fortresses controlled the ships arriving at the Santa Catarina coast, which was halfway between the port of Rio de Janeiro (Viceroyalty) and the Colony of the Blessed Sacrament on the River Plate.

Check out the series made by students from the tourism course at the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina - IFSC

Learn more about the gate, the dungeon and the guardhouse.

Bateria de São Caetano and the Fort

The São Caetano Battery and the São José da Ponta Grossa Fortress form one of the most beautiful landscapes on the island of Santa Catarina.

In 1765, 200 meters east of the São José Fortress, the São Caetano Battery was built with six cannons to protect the unprotected beaches of Jurerê and Canasvieiras.

With the function of increasing protection on the east side, on the beaches of Jurerê and Canasvieiras, this apex was designed by Sergeant Major Francisco José da Rocha during the government of Francisco de Souza e Menezes.

It is the only fortress where the chapel stands between the other buildings and has three cannon batteries armed with 31 artillery pieces.

In 1777, after the Spanish invasion, the fortress was practically abandoned and it was only when it was listed as a National Historic and Artistic Heritage Site in 1938 that it began to receive minor restoration work.

In 1987, the area was registered as an archaeological site and in 1990, UFSC finished excavating the site.

Understand how the guardhouse and barracks worked.

The fortress was listed as a National Historic and Artistic Heritage site in 1938 and restored in 1992, when it came under the management of the Federal University of Santa Catarina.

The construction of the Gunpowder magazine.

Check out the virtual tour of the Fortress

History and management of the Fortress of São José da Ponta Grossa.