Description of the attraction
One of the main monuments of the historic center of Maputo is the Nossa Senhora da Cuncisanu fortress, located on the 25 June square, next to the local port. It is a quadrangular fortification built of reddish stone. The fortress has only one entrance. After passing through the gate, visitors enter a square-shaped courtyard. From it you can go to various rooms located in the buildings around the perimeter. In this courtyard, planted with green grass and trees, there is an equestrian statue of the Portuguese Joaquim Augusto Mauzinu de Albuquerque, which stood in front of the city hall before the expulsion of the colonialists from the country. The fortress also contains the tomb of the rebel leader Gungunyana. His remains were transported from the Azores in 1985.
The current fortress was built in 1940. Before her, there were two forts. The first appeared in 1722, a quarter of a mile from the mouth of the Espirito Santo River. It was intended for 113 Dutch people who moved here from Cape Town. The pentagonal fort, called Lagoa, was built of wood. About six months later, half of Europeans died from malaria. The rest had to defend themselves from the pirates who were pursued by the British. As a result, the fort was abandoned and forgotten until 1777, when the Austrians came here, who were soon driven out by the Portuguese troops, who remained here for a long time. It was they who initiated the construction of a new fortress on the site at the site of Fort Lagoa. She appeared in the years 1782-1787.
Today, the Nossa Senhora da Cuncisanu fortress houses the Museum of Military History. Here are collected weapons, including artillery, and various items that tell the story of the struggle of the people of Mozambique for their independence.
