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Fort · Punta del Diablo, Rocha
Fortaleza de Santa Teresa
Stone fortress begun by the Portuguese in 1762 and completed by the Spanish, on a rise beside Ruta 9. Restored in the 20th century, it now operates as a museum within the national park.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Fortaleza de Santa Teresa
The Fortaleza de Santa Teresa stands on a rocky rise 58 meters high, beside the old Caminho da Angostura, the only passage between the wetlands and the sea. The Portuguese began fortifying the site in 1762 with a trench and a log palisade, and named it Santa Teresa.
In April 1763 the Spanish Pedro de Cevallos seized the position. The present stone fortress was designed by engineer Bartolomé Howel and built between 1765 and 1775.
Abandoned in the 19th century and partly buried by dunes, it was restored from 1928 at the initiative of Horacio Arredondo. It is a National Historic Monument and belongs to the Army.
Inside, visitors walk through the command building, the powder magazine, the chapel, the barracks, the infirmary, the smithy, the kitchen with replicas of 18th- and 19th-century utensils and the cannons in the embrasures. A museum displays models of Uruguay’s fortresses and a collection of weapons. Laguna Negra lies 2 km to the west.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About one to one-and-a-half hours.
Best time
Visiting days and hours change with the season: check before you go. In summer, arrive early to avoid the heat on the walls.
How to get there
It is located on Ruta 9, inside the Parque Nacional de Santa Teresa, about 11 km north of Punta del Diablo and 36 km south of Chuí.
Tip
Combine the fortress with the rest of the park in the same day. From the top of the walls, look west: you can see Laguna Negra.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Fortaleza de Santa Teresa
Who built Fortaleza de Santa Teresa?
The Portuguese began fortifying it in 1762. After the Spanish took it in 1763, the current stone fortress was built between 1765 and 1775, to a design by Bartolomé Howel.
Is the fortress inside Parque de Santa Teresa?
Yes. The national park was created precisely to protect it.
What is inside the fortress?
The command headquarters, the powder magazine, the chapel, the barracks, the kitchen with period replicas and a museum with models of fortresses and weapons.
How far is it from Chuí?
About 36 km via Ruta 9.