Fort Real de Sao Filipe (Cidade Velha)

A 16th-century Portuguese fortress standing on a plateau 120 metres above the historic city of Cidade Velha on the southern coast of Santiago island. Built to defend the settlement against pirate attacks and the encroachments of rival European powers, the fort formed the centrepiece of a coastal defence network that also included six smaller fortifications along the shore and a protective wall around the port area. The wider historic centre of Cidade Velha was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2009. The battlements offer unobstructed panoramic views across the bay.