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Reliving the Forte Das Cinco Pontas in Recife

Recife’s Forte das Cinco Pontas in English means Fort of the Five Tips referring to the original design by Tiago (or Tobias) Commersteijn, a Dutch engineer who rendered the port a pentagonal shape. Oral lore has it that before the Dutch invasion of Pernambuco, the island of Antonio Vaz was a busy one. There were warehouses and houses of the people making a living around the island. When the Dutch came, the Franciscan convent became busy. It was on the north side of island where the strong Ernest was constructed right where the convent is. The Forte das Cinco Pontas is a historically rich place where the traveler is in for lots of surprises.

The Island of Antonio Vaz represents one of the strategic places to defend against the Dutch. It was to be on the October of 1630 when the Dutch, under Theodoro Waerdenburch, commander of the Dutch land forces, that the Forte das Cinco Pontas resumed its construction. Located at the southern tip of the island of Antonio Vaz, the fort became known as having five tips, although at present it only seems to have four tips. The position was chosen by Frederick Henrich to serve two main purposes: as a defense and to maintain the domain of the cacimbas of Ambrosio Machado. The five-tip form of the forte was later known as the Strong of the Five Tips executed by Pieter van Bueren after design of Commersteijn.   

Forte das Cinco Pontas was later attacked by Luso-Brazilians with a fight that lasted for two hours. Fearing new attacks would happen, the Dutch constructed a Redoubt junior counsel, 400 meters south of the fort. The new infrastructure was called Amelia or Emilia. The walls of Frederico fort Enrique were about 12 to 13 feet high in the first feição. When winter came, its structures were destroyed.

During the historic Pernambucana Restoration, the Forte das Cinco Pontas was the last to be conquered by the Luso-Brazilians. Inside its walls were found the barracks of General Sigismund Von Schkoppe. It was then when the Dutch surrendered. Earlier, the Fort of the Five Tips on the 28th of January 1654, in the Campina de Taborda, the General Francisco Barreto Menezes received the terms of capitulation in a time when the Dutch evacuation was imminent.

Today, Forte das Cinco Pontas stands as a monument of a colonial past and a military uprising that has marked Recife's history. Travelers who come to Recife simply marvel at the architecture of the Fort. Facing the sea, it becomes a good place where one's mind can rest and reflect, enjoying the breeze, sun, and history alive in the place.

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