Forte de Santo Inácio de Loyola
Forte de Santo Inácio de Loyola, also called Forte de Tamandaré, is a colonial fortification in the town of Tamandaré, on the southern coast of Pernambuco. It suits those who want to add a bit of history to a beach day in Tamandaré or Carneiros.
Part of the guide Carneiros Beach and Tamandaré
Getting there from Porto de Galinhas
It is about 56 km by car to Tamandaré, around 55 minutes. The fort is on Rua Catorze, in the Tamandaré neighborhood, and also houses the town's Department of the Environment (Secretaria de Meio Ambiente). There is no confirmed direct bus from Porto de Galinhas.
Hours and admission
The town government does not publish visiting hours or admission prices. Before going, check with the Department of the Environment, which operates in the fort itself, by phone at (81) 98512-1231 or by e-mail at meioambiente@tamandare.pe.gov.br. The department's office hours are 8:00 to 14:00.
What to see
The fort was built between 1668 and 1814 and is the only fort in Pernambuco outside the Recife Metropolitan Region, not counting the fortifications of Fernando de Noronha. Between 2015 and 2017, it underwent a R$ 9.6 million renovation, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and carried out by the Pernambuco State Government, and it reopened on July 27, 2017. At the reopening, the interior became an air-conditioned history museum, with catalogued and restored pieces, among them objects found in the archaeological excavations carried out during the works, and a collection of artillery from Portuguese America. After the works, management passed to the town government. The fort is going through the heritage listing process at Fundarpe, the state heritage agency.
Before you go
Combine the visit with Tamandaré Beach, in the same town, and call ahead to check whether the museum is open that day.