Anhatomirim
Island – Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim Fort:
This was the largest of the forts constructed in colonial
times and has been listed as part of the National Heritage.
It is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of
Governador Celso Ramos and is maintained by the Federal
University of Santa Catarina. Revealing traces of Portuguese
architecture with a renaissance influence, the buildings
and outhouses are spread thinly at many different levels,
resulting in a magnificent panorama. The view takes
in the islands of Arvoredo, Ratones and Santa Catarina
(Florianópolis), plus the other two major forts
in the area.
In 1777 the Spanish invaded the island of Santa Catarina,
landing on the north-western shore that faces inwards
to the bay. The 112 Spanish ships were carrying 12
thousand soldiers with orders to take this strategically
located piece of land. None of the Portuguese troops
stationed at the forts meant to protect the area offered
them any resistance whatsoever. This was blamed on
the fact that the six Portuguese ships stationed there
to protect the island had been sent to Rio de Janeiro.
With no warships at their disposal, the soldiers could
do nothing but await the invasion.
The most significant event in the fort’s history
took place at the end of the Federalist Revolution,
in April 1894. Dozens of rebels were taken to the
fort, from whence they never returned. It is not known
exactly how many summary shootings and hangings were
ordered by the powerful Colonel Moreira César,
but they may number in the hundreds. Among those who
were executed were people such as the Baron of Batovi
and the President of the Provisional Republic of Desterro,
Frederico Guilherme de Lorena.
It is said that even today the ghosts of the condemned
still haunt Anhatomirim Island, wandering the imposing
building’s wide corridors, bewailing the injustice
of their fate.
