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Coordinates: 37°50′0.57″N 8°47′51.22″W / 37.8334917°N 8.7975611°W / 37.8334917; -8.7975611
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{{Short description|Island in Portugal}}
'''Pessegueiro Island''' is located in [[Alentejo]], [[Portugal]], in the Municipality of [[Sines]]. It's a small island near [[Porto Covo]], a small town with a famous beach.
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pessegueiro Island
| native_name = Ilha Pessegueiro
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Island
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = Porto Covo January 2011-2b.jpg
| image_caption = The island of Pessegueiro as seen from the village of Porto Covo, during a winter storm
| image_flag =
| image_shield =
| motto =
| nickname =
| etymology = {{lang|pt|pessegueiro}}, Portuguese word for ''[[peach]]tree''; literally ''"island of the peachtree"''
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Portugal}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = [[Alentejo]]
| subdivision_type2 = Subregion
| subdivision_name2 = [[Alentejo Litoral]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| parts_type = Municipality
| parts_style = para
| p1 = [[Sines Municipality|Sines]]
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map =
| map_caption = Location of the island of Pessegueiro in continental Portugal
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates =
| coordinates_footnotes =
<!-- established -->
| established_title =
| established_date =
<!-- area -->
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_sq_mi =
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi=
| population_demonym =
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 =
| utc_offset1 =
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| geocode =
| iso_code =
| blank_name = Ethnic groups
| blank_info = Portuguese
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website =
| footnotes = Statistics from [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Portugal)|INE]] (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)
}}
'''Pessegueiro Island''' ({{langx|pt|Ilha do Pessegueiro|links=no}}), literally ''island of the Peachtree'', is a small island/islet located along the southwest coast of the civil parish of [[Porto Covo]] in the municipality of [[Sines Municipality|Sines]]. The island and the adjacent coast are part of [[Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park]], but Pessegueiro island is also notable for the 15th-16th century fort located at its centre and Roman ruins along the coast.

==History==
[[File:Porto Covo April 2010-2a.jpg|thumb|left|500px|Pessegueiro Island, view from the east]]
Historically, the island was first occupied by the [[Carthage|Carthaginians]] before the [[Second Punic War]] (218-202 BCE).

At the time of the [[Roman conquest of Hispania]], the island hosted a small [[fish processing]] centre, as determined by archaeological excavations which discovered the remains of salt tanks along the southern coast.

To help defend against [[privateer]]s, the natural anchorage was extended at the time of the [[Iberian Union]] with an artificial rock barrier connecting the island of Pessegueiro to the coastline. In 1590, construction began on the [[Fort of Pessegueiro Island]], which came to occupy a dominant position on the island, with the purpose of providing military support to a [[:pt:Forte de Nossa Senhora da Queimada|fort]] on the mainland. Work on the project was halted in 1598 in order to construct the [[:pt:Forte de São Clemente|Fort of Vila Nova de Milfontes]].

===The legend of Our Lady of Queimada===
According to tradition, in the middle of the 18th century, [[Barbary pirates]] arriving on the island from [[Algeria]] and [[Morocco]] encountered a Christian [[hermit]] who was maintaining a [[chapel]] dedicated to the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]]. The pirates killed the monk, looted the chapel and threw her statue into the flames.

Later the inhabitants of Porto Covo buried the Christian hermit, but could not, at first, find the sacred image. Deciding to search the entire island, they finally found the statue within a burned bush but unharmed by the fire: the image became known as the ''Queimada'' (''Burnt Virgin''). The statue was removed to the mainland, one kilometre from the island, where a new chapel was built, known as the ''Chapel of the Burned Virgin'' ({{langx|pt|Capela de Nossa Senhora da Queimada|links=no}}), becoming a destination for pilgrimages.

==Geography==
Located {{convert|300|m|yd}} from the coast by a channel, it is situated south of the parish seat of Porto Covo, southwest of a small inlet used by fishing boats.<ref>{{cite enroute|143|2017|163}}</ref>

Part of the [[Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park]] it is migratory stop and hatchery for many marine bird species, some on the verge of extinction, including [[seagulls]], [[cormorant]]s and [[carrion crow]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sines.pt/PT/Concelho/patrimonionatural/ilhadopessegueiro/Paginas/default.aspx |publisher=Câmara Municipal de Sines |location=Sines, Portugal |language=Portuguese |year=2011 |accessdate=14 January 2012 |title=Ilha do Pessegueiro |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127052626/http://www.sines.pt/PT/Concelho/patrimonionatural/ilhadopessegueiro/Paginas/default.aspx |archivedate=27 January 2012 }}</ref>

==Fort of Pessegueiro Island==
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Fort of Pessegueiro Island
| ensign =
| ensign_size =
| native_name = Forte da Ilha do Pessegueiro
| type = Fort
<!-- images -->
| image = Fortaleza do Pessegueiro.jpg
| caption = The Fort of Pessegueiro Island across the 300 metre channel from the Fort of Pessegueiro Beach
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map =
| map_caption = Location of the Fort of Pessegueiro Island
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|37|50|0.57|N|8|47|51.22|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
<!-- location -->
| partof =
| location = [[Setúbal (district)|Setúbal]], [[Alentejo Litoral]], [[Alentejo]]
| nearest_town =
| country = [[Portugal]]
<!-- stats -->
| ownership = [[Portuguese Republic]]
| operator =
| open_to_public = Public
| site_area =
| built = c. 1588
| used =
| builder =
| materials = [[Ashlar]] [[Masonry]], Stone
| height =
| length =
| fate =
| condition =
| battles =
| events =
| garrison =
| occupants =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
{{distinguish|Fort of Pessegueiro|section=TRUE}}
The '''Fort of Pessegueiro Island''' ({{langx|pt|Forte da ilha do Pessegueiro}}) is a fort situated on the island of Pessegueiro, off the coast of the civil parish of [[Porto Covo]], municipality of [[Sines Municipality|Sines]], in the southern [[Alentejo]] of [[Portugal]].

There are still visible on the island of Pessegueiro enormous blocks cut from the rocks of the island, and sunk in the waters around it.<ref name="SIPA">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=30909 |title=Forte na Ilha do Pessegueiro |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese|first=Isabel |last=Mendonça |first2=Cecília |last2=Matias |year=2011 |accessdate=14 January 2012}}</ref> Similarly, there have been discovered various tanks for salting fish, that were used during the early Roman occupation of the region. These tanks were used in the salting and processing of fish, which was traded and transported to Rome.<ref name=SIPA/>

In 1588, Terzi began the planning for a fort on the island, as part of a project to construct an artificial port that would link the island to the coast (then approved by cardinal Alberto, the vice-King).<ref name=SIPA/><ref name="IGESPAR">{{cite web|url=http://www.igespar.pt/en/patrimonio/pesquisa/geral/patrimonioimovel/detail/74610/ |title=Forte do Pessegueiro, incluindo a ilha do mesmo nome, abrangendo o Forte da Ilha de Dentro |editor=IGESPAR |accessdate=16 January 2012 |year=2011 |location=Lisbon, Portugal |publisher=IGESPAR-Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |language=Portuguese}}</ref> Alexandre Massay substituted Terzi in 1590, beginning the construction of the port, while work on the artificial port continued.<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/> The construction was interrupted in 1598, when Massay was transferred to Vila Nova de Milfontes, to begin work on the construction of a fort to defend the inlet to the [[Mira River (Portugal)|River Mira]].<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/>

Construction began once again in 1603, but were interrupted shortly later.<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/> It is unclear, but construction on the island was likely completed between 1661 and 1690, although the fort and artificial port remained incomplete.<ref name=SIPA/>

The [[1755 Lisbon earthquake]] was responsible for damage to the chapel, and the batteries over the [[casemate]]s.<ref name=SIPA/>

===Architecture===
Of the fort that remains on the island, the existing structure exists in ruins.<ref name=SIPA/> It is a [[Star fort|star-shaped fort]], consisting of four symmetrical, triangular [[bastion|bulwarks]] and with casemates in the central part of the fortification. On the opposite end of the main entrance is a hermitage, dedicated to Santo Alberto ({{langx|pt|Ermida de Santo Alberto}}).<ref name=SIPA/>

The fort was part of group that included an artificial port, defended by a breakwater also connected the island to the rocky outcroppings to the north of the island: the Penedo do Cavalo.<ref name=SIPA/>

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* {{citation |last=Callixto |first=Carlos |title=O Forte de Porto Covo |publisher=O Dia |date=3 October 1981 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Callixto |first=Carlos |title=O Forte de Porto Covo |publisher=Diário de Notícias |date=21 September 1984 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Falcão |first=José António |title=Memória paroquial do Concelho de Sines |location=Santiago do Cacém, Portugal |year=1987 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Mendes |first=João |title=Pessegueiro em perigo |publisher=Sábado |date=5 May 1990 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Soledade |first=Arnaldo |title=Sines: terra de Vasco da Gama |location=Sines |year=1990}}
* {{citation |last=Callixto |first=Carlos |title=O Forte de Porto Covo |publisher=Diário de Notícias |date=23 February 1991 |language=Portuguese}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Portugal]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Portugal]]
[[Category:Sines]]

Latest revision as of 06:01, 2 November 2024

Pessegueiro Island
Ilha Pessegueiro
Island
The island of Pessegueiro as seen from the village of Porto Covo, during a winter storm
The island of Pessegueiro as seen from the village of Porto Covo, during a winter storm
Etymology: pessegueiro, Portuguese word for peachtree; literally "island of the peachtree"
Map
Country Portugal
RegionAlentejo
SubregionAlentejo Litoral
MunicipalitySines
Ethnic groupsPortuguese
Statistics from INE (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)

Pessegueiro Island (Portuguese: Ilha do Pessegueiro), literally island of the Peachtree, is a small island/islet located along the southwest coast of the civil parish of Porto Covo in the municipality of Sines. The island and the adjacent coast are part of Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, but Pessegueiro island is also notable for the 15th-16th century fort located at its centre and Roman ruins along the coast.

History

[edit]
Pessegueiro Island, view from the east

Historically, the island was first occupied by the Carthaginians before the Second Punic War (218-202 BCE).

At the time of the Roman conquest of Hispania, the island hosted a small fish processing centre, as determined by archaeological excavations which discovered the remains of salt tanks along the southern coast.

To help defend against privateers, the natural anchorage was extended at the time of the Iberian Union with an artificial rock barrier connecting the island of Pessegueiro to the coastline. In 1590, construction began on the Fort of Pessegueiro Island, which came to occupy a dominant position on the island, with the purpose of providing military support to a fort on the mainland. Work on the project was halted in 1598 in order to construct the Fort of Vila Nova de Milfontes.

The legend of Our Lady of Queimada

[edit]

According to tradition, in the middle of the 18th century, Barbary pirates arriving on the island from Algeria and Morocco encountered a Christian hermit who was maintaining a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The pirates killed the monk, looted the chapel and threw her statue into the flames.

Later the inhabitants of Porto Covo buried the Christian hermit, but could not, at first, find the sacred image. Deciding to search the entire island, they finally found the statue within a burned bush but unharmed by the fire: the image became known as the Queimada (Burnt Virgin). The statue was removed to the mainland, one kilometre from the island, where a new chapel was built, known as the Chapel of the Burned Virgin (Portuguese: Capela de Nossa Senhora da Queimada), becoming a destination for pilgrimages.

Geography

[edit]

Located 300 metres (330 yd) from the coast by a channel, it is situated south of the parish seat of Porto Covo, southwest of a small inlet used by fishing boats.[1]

Part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park it is migratory stop and hatchery for many marine bird species, some on the verge of extinction, including seagulls, cormorants and carrion crows.[2]

Fort of Pessegueiro Island

[edit]
Fort of Pessegueiro Island
Forte da Ilha do Pessegueiro
Setúbal, Alentejo Litoral, Alentejo in Portugal
The Fort of Pessegueiro Island across the 300 metre channel from the Fort of Pessegueiro Beach
Coordinates37°50′0.57″N 8°47′51.22″W / 37.8334917°N 8.7975611°W / 37.8334917; -8.7975611
TypeFort
Site information
OwnerPortuguese Republic
Open to
the public
Public
Site history
Builtc. 1588
MaterialsAshlar Masonry, Stone

The Fort of Pessegueiro Island (Portuguese: Forte da ilha do Pessegueiro) is a fort situated on the island of Pessegueiro, off the coast of the civil parish of Porto Covo, municipality of Sines, in the southern Alentejo of Portugal.

There are still visible on the island of Pessegueiro enormous blocks cut from the rocks of the island, and sunk in the waters around it.[3] Similarly, there have been discovered various tanks for salting fish, that were used during the early Roman occupation of the region. These tanks were used in the salting and processing of fish, which was traded and transported to Rome.[3]

In 1588, Terzi began the planning for a fort on the island, as part of a project to construct an artificial port that would link the island to the coast (then approved by cardinal Alberto, the vice-King).[3][4] Alexandre Massay substituted Terzi in 1590, beginning the construction of the port, while work on the artificial port continued.[3][4] The construction was interrupted in 1598, when Massay was transferred to Vila Nova de Milfontes, to begin work on the construction of a fort to defend the inlet to the River Mira.[3][4]

Construction began once again in 1603, but were interrupted shortly later.[3][4] It is unclear, but construction on the island was likely completed between 1661 and 1690, although the fort and artificial port remained incomplete.[3]

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake was responsible for damage to the chapel, and the batteries over the casemates.[3]

Architecture

[edit]

Of the fort that remains on the island, the existing structure exists in ruins.[3] It is a star-shaped fort, consisting of four symmetrical, triangular bulwarks and with casemates in the central part of the fortification. On the opposite end of the main entrance is a hermitage, dedicated to Santo Alberto (Portuguese: Ermida de Santo Alberto).[3]

The fort was part of group that included an artificial port, defended by a breakwater also connected the island to the rocky outcroppings to the north of the island: the Penedo do Cavalo.[3]

References

[edit]
Notes
  1. ^ Sailing Directions (Enroute), Pub. 143: West Coast of Europe and Northwest Africa (PDF). Sailing Directions. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 163.
  2. ^ "Ilha do Pessegueiro" (in Portuguese). Sines, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Sines. 2011. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mendonça, Isabel; Matias, Cecília (2011). SIPA (ed.). "Forte na Ilha do Pessegueiro" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d IGESPAR, ed. (2011). "Forte do Pessegueiro, incluindo a ilha do mesmo nome, abrangendo o Forte da Ilha de Dentro" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: IGESPAR-Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico. Retrieved 16 January 2012.

Sources

[edit]
  • Callixto, Carlos (3 October 1981), O Forte de Porto Covo (in Portuguese), O Dia
  • Callixto, Carlos (21 September 1984), O Forte de Porto Covo (in Portuguese), Diário de Notícias
  • Falcão, José António (1987), Memória paroquial do Concelho de Sines (in Portuguese), Santiago do Cacém, Portugal{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Mendes, João (5 May 1990), Pessegueiro em perigo (in Portuguese), Sábado
  • Soledade, Arnaldo (1990), Sines: terra de Vasco da Gama, Sines{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Callixto, Carlos (23 February 1991), O Forte de Porto Covo (in Portuguese), Diário de Notícias