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The fort of
São José
The first port in the Atlantic Ocean.Christopher Columbus has been here
as well.
This small isle has been used throughout the centuries as port, Customs,
jail and fuel deposit.
When English soldiers tried to occupy Madeira they used this isle as a
post of control.
In 1903 the Portuguese government sold this fort in order to get money
to build the fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ( on your left side)
In 1966 the biggest electric sign of all Europe was put on the top of
the isle.
Since 2000 the new owners of the fort have been trying to rebuild what
was once the first port of Funchal.
ln accordance with existing bibliographies it was in
the western part of a great shell-formed bay that there existed two
islets - two land masses that the discoverers of Madeira, João Gonçalves
Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira, took refuge in 1419 before setting foot
on the nearby island whose astonishing jungle-like impenetrability of
the forests gave the newcomers cause to hesitate, for tree-felling as
they knew it was hardly in question in these stubborn thickets.
On the smaliest islet they cut into lhe rock, forming steps that remain
untouched, even today. This atoll was lhe first stronghold of Madeira.
At one of its sea-extending extremities one can still make out lhe
triangular outline from where lhe navigators fastened their ships.
Handed down from generation to generation there is an old saying that
locals take pride in reiterating, "Before becoming a city, Funchal had
been a Port". And since lhe first city of lhe Atlantic was Funchal then
understandably, lhe Fort of São José was nevertheless, the first Port of
lhe Atlantic not to mention, being Europe's focal westward haven which
undeniably gave way to Europe's maritime escolation.
lt was through this precise islet that, for many years, commodities
entered and left lhe island; 15th century sugar and white gold, 18th
century wine and 20th century coal and black gold.
The Fort of São José can claim to have been at lhe birth of tourism for
it was both an egress and entrance podium for emigrants and tourists
alike since lhe very beginning. Before disembarkation in Madeira, Health
Officials would board lhe ships anchored in lhe Boy of Funchal. lf there
were any problems, a yellow flag was hoisted and lhe ship was put in
quarantine about 3 km west of lhe Fort athwart a locale named Lazareto.
lf lhe ship was given a clean bill of health, Customs Officials went on
board. The Fort of São José was used as a temporary Customs HQ during
such inspections. Distinguished guests believed to have set foot on this
Fort include the navigator Christopher Columbus and British naval
officer, cartographer, and explorer Captain James Cook.
In 1757 lhe first stage of lhe harbour was built.
Between 1801 and 1807 British forces occupied lhe island to safeguard
lhe haven as a crucial point for lhe Navy. The British flog was raised
on lhe Fort and lhe fortress was used as temporary HQ of lhe British
garrison. lt contained a chapel, prison, magazine and barracks. The fact
that British soldiers used lhe lowers western side of lhe rock as a loo
(a mid 20th century term designating toilet), earned lhe fort its
depreciative name to which it was dubbed - Loo Rock.
As ironic as it might seem, if you happen to visit lhe fort, you will
notice an appalling shackle of sewage ducts passing near lhe foundation
of lhe fort. The Fort of São José no longer stands alone; it is now
incorporated in lhe harbour mole, and a road passageway passes by it.
lts present-day owner is Madeira born Renato Barros, an exceptionally
clever and inquisitive Visual Arts and Computer teacher from Santo
Antonio Secondary School who purchased lhe fort about five years ago.
When questioned about lhe 'Rock's' fate he summarily explained that, "a
crew of local archaeologists have been working laboriously inside lhe
Fort for lhe post few months in lhe hope of finding valuable artefacts".
ln spite of having uncovered a few human bones, bullet shells and a
canon ball from lhe half-century old rocks this inquisitive teacher
added that, "efforts to unearth lhe lost pieces to lhe 'Puzzle of lhe
First Port of lhe Atlantic' will continue until some light is shed a
propos to Europe's best kept secret, lhe first port of lhe Atlantic -
Fort of São José".
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