Located next to the Maputo Fishing Harbour, downtown, the Fortress “Nossa Senhora da Conceição" is one of the most important and historical monuments of Maputo City.
The history for the Fort stems from around 1721 when Dutch settlers established Lagoa Fortress on the right bank of the Espírito Santo River, (The Maputo River) at the Ponta Mahone, (Catembe). This was abandoned in 1730 and then re-established by Austrian settlers in 1777 and used for the slave trade, this was then destroyed in 1781 by a Portuguese expedition coming from Goa.
In order to protect the Portuguese trade and commerce in the area a basic fort area was established on the left hand side of the Bay in 1782. Later this military establishment was transformed into a fully fledged Fortress and its construction concluded in 1787.
The Fortress was rebuilt by Tenant Luis José and inaugurated on the 25th August 1799.
The impressive tree that stands just in front of the Fortress has a dark past because of its use by the Vátua warriors who hanged the captured prison governor in 1883.
The building as it stands now was built in 1940 currently used as the Museum of Military history.
The construction design (a squared plan built of red blocks) is typical of this many other Portuguese Forts spread around the East African Coast. Inside there is a distinctive painting of Ngungunhane whom was one of the main leaders in the colonial resistance war. The Fort also houses his coffin, which was laid to rest here after having been deported and executed in Portugal. Additionally there are statues of Mouzinho de Albuquerque and António Enes whom were icons of the colonial presence in Mozambique. In acknowledgement of its architectural and historic importance the Fortress was classified as a Mozambican Cultural Heritage Monument in 2002; as such it is protected by the Law of Protection of Cultural Heritage
Dru mesmerized by a big gun!!!!! Ngungunhane's coffin
No comments:
Post a Comment