This article will list all fortifications that were built, partially built, or ordered to be built by the Portuguese throughout the globe. All forts in this list are outside the modern territory of Portugal, and were built for the purpose of colonialism and the Portuguese Empire. Some of the forts were in Portuguese hands for a brief period - often a few years before the Portuguese were expelled, while others were held for centuries.
Portuguese explorers have discovered many lands and the sea routes in the 15th–18th centuries during the Age of Discovery. Along the way they built outposts and fortresses, many of which still exist today all over the world. These forts are often similar in design and are therefore easy to recognize.
| Name | Built | Condition | Image | City/Region | Current country | Historical rulers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN: Elmina Castle PT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina | 1482 | Intact | Elmina |  Ghana | Portugal (1482–1637) Netherlands (1637–1872) Britain (1872–1957) | ||
| EN: Fort Cacheu PT: Forte de Cacheu | 1588 | Intact | Cacheu |  Guinea-Bissau | Portugal (1588–1974) | ||
| EN: Fort Duke of Braganza PT: Forte Duque de Bragança | 1820 | Ruins | Ilhéu de Sal Rei |  Cape Verde | Portugal (1820–1975) | ||
| EN: Fort Jesus PT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça | 1593–1596 | Intact | Mombasa |  Kenya | Portugal (1593–1698, 1728–1729) Oman (1698–1741, 1837–1895) Local rule (1741–1837) Britain (1895–1963) | ||
| EN: Fort Saint Anthony PT: Forte de Santo António | 1515 | Intact | Axim | Ghana | Portugal (1515–1642) Netherlands (1642–1872) Britain (1872–1957) | ||
| EN: Fort Saint Cajetan PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala | 1505 | Decimated | Sofala |  Mozambique | Portugal (1505–1975) | ||
| EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama | 1520–1526 | Intact | Shama | Ghana | Portugal (1520–1642) Netherlands (1642–1872) Britain (1872–1957) | ||
| EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião | 1558 | Intact | Island of Mozambique | Mozambique | Portugal (1558–1975) | ||
| EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião | 1575 | Intact | São Tomé | São Tomé and Príncipe | Portugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975) Netherlands (1641–1644) | ||
| EN: Fortress of Kambambe PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe | 1604 | Ruins | Cambambe |  Angola | Portugal (1604–1975) | ||
| EN: Fortress of Mazagan PT: Fortaleza de Mazagão | 1514 | Intact | El Jadida |  Morocco | Portugal (1514–1769) Morocco (1769–1912) France (1912–1956) | ||
| EN: Fortress of Muxima PT: Fortaleza da Muxima | 1599 | Intact | Muxima | Angola | Portugal (1599–1641, 1648–1975) Netherlands (1641–1648) | ||
| EN: Fortress of Saint John the Baptist of Ouidah PT: Fortaleza de São João Batista de Ajudá | 1721 | Intact | Ouidah |  Benin | Portugal (1721–1961) | ||
| EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph Amura PT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura | 1697 | Restored | Bissau | Guinea-Bissau | Portugal (1697–1974) | ||
| EN: Fortress of Saint Michael PT: Fortaleza de São Miguel | 1576 | Intact | Luanda | Angola | Portugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975) Netherlands (1641–1648) | ||
| EN: Royal Castle of Mogador PT: Castelo Real de Mogador | 1506 | Demolished | Essaouira | Morocco | Portugal (1506–1510) | ||
| EN: Royal Fort of Saint Philip PT: Forte Real de São Filipe | 1587–1593 | Intact | Cidade Velha | Cape Verde | Portugal (1587–1975) | ||
| EN: Royal Walls of Ceuta PT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta | 1540s | Intact | Ceuta |  Spain | Portugal (1415–1668) | ||
| EN: Stronghold of Saint Lawrence PT: Fortim de São Lourenço | 1695 | Intact | Island of São Lourenço | Mozambique | Portugal (1695–1975) |
| Name | Built | Condition | Image | City/Region | Current country | Historical rulers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN: Fort of Our Lady of Medicines PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios | 1737 | Ruins | Fernando de Noronha |  Brazil | Portugal (1737–1822) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Barra PT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra | 1596 | Restored | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1596–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Beyond Carmo PT: Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo | 1695–1703 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1695–1822) | |
| EN: Fort Saint Anthony of Gurupá PT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá | 1601–1619 | Restored | Gurupá | Brazil | Netherlands (1601–1623) Portugal (1623–1822) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint James PT: Forte de São Diogo | 1609 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1609–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint Lawrence PT: Forte de São Lourenço | 1631 | Restored | Itaparica | Brazil | Portugal (1631–1822) Netherlands (1647) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint Marcellus PT: Forte de São Marcelo | 1608–1623 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1608–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint Mary PT: Forte de Santa Maria | 1614 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1614–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
| EN: Fort of Saint Michael PT: Forte de São Miguel | 1737 | Intact | Dieciocho de Julio |  Uruguay | Portugal (1737–1763) Spain (1763–1816) Portugal (1816–1822) Brazil (1822–1828) | |
| EN: Fort Santana PT: Forte de Santana | 1775 | Ruins | Fernando de Noronha | Brazil | Portugal (1775–1822) | |
| EN: Fort of the Three Wise Men PT: Forte dos Reis Magos | 1599 | Intact | Natal | Brazil | Portugal (1599–1633, 1654–1822) Netherlands (1633–1654) | |
| EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Anhatomirim PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim | 1739–1744 | Intact | Governador Celso Ramos | Brazil | ||
| EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Barra PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra | 1612 | Intact | Niterói | Brazil | Portugal (1612–1822) | |
| EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção | 1812 | Intact | Fortaleza | Brazil | Portugal (1812–1822) | |
| EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Conception PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição | 1718 | Intact | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Portugal (1718–1822) | |
| EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Pleasures PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres | 1767–1769 | Intact | Paranaguá | Brazil | Portugal (1767–1822) | |
| EN: Fortress of Saint Teresa PT: Fortaleza de Santa Teresa | 1762 | Intact | Santa Teresa National Park | Uruguay | Portugal (1762–1763) Spain (1763–1816) Portugal (1816–1822) Brazil (1822–1828) | |
| Name | Built | Condition | Image | City/region | Current country | Historical rulers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN: Al Jalali Fort PT: Forte Aljalali Forte de São João | 1586 | Restored | Muscat |  Oman | Portugal (1586–1650) Muscat (1650–1820) Muscat & Oman (1820–1892) Britain (1892–1970) | ||
| EN: Arippu Fort PT: Forte Arippu | 17th century | Ruins | Mannar |  Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century-1658) Netherlands (1658–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | ||
| EN: Balibo Fort PT: Forte Balibo | 1645–1665 | Intact | Balibo | East Timor | Portugal (1645–1975) Indonesia (1975–1999) UNTAET (1999–2002) | ||
| EN: Batticaloa Fort PT: Forte Batticaloa | 1622–1628 | Intact | Batticaloa | Sri Lanka | Portugal (1622–1638) Netherlands (1638–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | ||
| EN: Cabo de Rama Fort PT: Forte do Cabo da Rama | 1763 | Ruins | Canacona |  India | Portugal (1763–1961) | ||
| EN: Castle of the Waterpoint PT: Castella de Aguada Forte de Bandorá | 1640 | Intact | Mumbai | India | Portugal (1640–1661) Britain (1661–1947) | ||
| EN: Chapora Fort PT: Forte de Chaporá | 1717 | Ruins | Chapora | India | Portugal (1717–1961) | ||
| EN: Cranganore Fort PT: Forte de Cranganore Fortaleza da São Tomé | 1523 | Ruins | Kodungallur | India | Portugal (1523–1662) Netherlands (1662–1796) Britain (1796–1947) | ||
| EN: Diu Fortress PT: Fortaleza de Diu Fortaleza de São Tomé | 1535 | Intact | Diu | India | Portugal (1535–1961) | ||
| EN: Dongri Fort PT: Forte de Dongri[1] | 1596 | Ruins | Mumbai | India | Portugal (1596-1739) Maratha (1739-1818) Britain (1818–1947) | ||
| EN: The Famous PT: A Famosa | 1511 | Fragments | Malacca |  Malaysia | Portugal (1511–1641) Netherlands (1641–1795, 1818–1824) Britain (1795–1818, 1824–1956) Japan (1942–1945) | ||
| EN: Fort Al-Mirani PT: Forte de Almirani | 16th century | Restored | Muscat | Oman | Portugal (16th century-1650) Ottoman Empire (1552, 1581–1588) Muscat (1650–1820) Muscat & Oman (1820–1892) Britain (1892–1970) | ||
| EN: Fort Anjediva PT: Forte de Angediva | 1505 | Demolished | Anjediva Island | India | Portugal (1505–1961) | ||
| EN: Fort Emmanuel PT: Forte de Manuel | 1503 | Ruins | Kochi | India | Portugal (1503–1663) Netherlands (1663–1795) Britain (1795–1947) | ||
| EN: Fort Kastela PT: Fortaleza de Ternate São João Baptista de Ternate | 1522 | Ruins | Ternate |  Indonesia | Portugal (1522–1575) Ternate (1575–1606) Spain (1606–1663) Netherlands (1663–1942, 1945–1946) Japan (1942–1945) East Indonesia (1946–1950) | ||
| EN: Fort Victoria, Our Lady of Annunciation Fortress PT: Fortaleza Nossa Senhora de Anunciada | 1575 | Intact | Ambon, Maluku | Indonesia | Portugal (1575–1605) Netherlands (1605–1946) Britain (1810–1814) Japan (1942-1945) East Indonesia (1946–1950) Republic of South Maluku (1950) | ||
| EN: Fort of Our Lady of the Conception PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora da Conceição | 1515 | Fragments | Hormuz | Iran | |||
| EN: Fort Qeshm PT: Forte de Queixome | 1621 | Ruins | Qeshm | Iran | Portugal (1621–1622) | ||
| EN: Fort St. Anthony of Simbor PT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor | 1722 | Restored | Simbor | India | Portugal (1722–1961) | ||
| EN: Fort Tarout PT: Forte de Tarout | 1515–1520 | Intact | Tarout Island |  Saudi Arabia | Portugal (1515–1559) | ||
| EN: Fortress of the Watering Place PT: Fortaleza da Aguada | 1612 | Intact | Sinquerim | India | Portugal (1612–1961) | ||
| EN: Galle Fort PT: Forte de Galle | 1584 | Intact | Galle | Sri Lanka | Portugal (1584–1640) Netherlands (1640–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | ||
| EN: Ghodbunder Fort PT: Forte de Ghodbunder | 1550–1730 | Ruins | Thane | India | Portugal (1550–1737) Maratha (1737–1818) Britain (1818–1947) | ||
| EN: Guia Fortress PT: Fortaleza da Guia | 1622–1638 | Intact | Macau |  China | Portugal (1622–1999) | ||
| EN: Khasab Fort PT: Forte de Caçapo | 17th century | Restored | Khasab | Oman | |||
| EN: Korlai Fort PT: Forte de Korlai Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul | 1521 | Ruins | Korlai | India | Ahmadnagar (1521–1594) Portugal (1594–1739) Maratha (1739–1818) Britain (1818–1947) | ||
| EN: Madh Fort PT: Forte de Madh | 17th century | Intact | Mumbai | India | Portugal (17th century) Britain (1661–1947) | ||
| EN: Malé Fort PT: Forte de Malé | 17th century | Demolished | Maldives |  Maldives | Portugal (1558–1650) Netherlands (1650–1796) Britain (1796–1953) | ||
| EN: Mormugão fort PT: Forte de Mormugão | 1624 | Ruins | Mormugao | India | Portugal (1624–1961) | ||
| EN: Mount Fortress PT: Fortaleza do Monte | 1617–1626 | Intact | Macau | China | Portugal (1617–1999) | ||
| EN: Mutrah Fort PT: Forte de Matara | 1580s | Intact | Muscat | Oman | Portugal (1580s–1650) Muscat (1650–1820) Muscat & Oman (1820–1892) Britain (1892–1970) | ||
| EN: Negombo Fort PT: Forte de Negombo | 17th century | Fragments | Negombo | Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century–1640) Netherlands (1640–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | ||
| EN: Pallipuram Fort PT: Forte de Paliporto | 1503 | Intact | Kochi | India | Portugal (1503–1663) Netherlands (1663–1795) Britain (1795–1947) | ||
| EN: Pooneryn Fort PT: Forte de Pooneryn | 17th century | Ruins | Pooneryn | Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century-1658) Netherlands (1658–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | ||
| EN: Portuguese Fort PT: Forte Português | 17th century | Intact | Jepara Regency | Indonesia | Mataram (17th century-1743) Netherlands (1743–1811, 1814–1942) Britain (1811–1814) Japan (1942–1945) | ||
| EN: Qal'at al-Bahrain PT: Forte de Barém | 16th century | Intact | Capital Governorate |  Bahrain | Portugal (16th century) | ||
| EN: Redoubt of Counselor Jacinto Cândido PT: Reduto do Conselheiro Jacinto Candido | 1655 | Intact | Batugade | East Timor | Portugal (1655–1975) Indonesia (1975–1999) UNTAET (1999–2002) | ||
| EN: Revdanda Fort PT: Forte de Revdanda Fortaleza de Chaul | 1524 | Ruins | Revdanda | India | Portugal (1524–1806) Maratha (1806–1818) Britain (1818–1947) | ||
| EN: St. Angelo Fort PT: Forte de Santo Ângelo | 1505 | Intact | Kannur | India | |||
| EN: St. Thomas Fort PT: Forte de São Tomé | 1518 | Ruins | Kollam | India | Portugal (1518–1661) Netherlands (1661–1795) Britain (1795–1947) |
Notes