Taipa Fortress
The old Taipa Fortress was built in 1847 by the Lieutenant Silva Loureiro in the western tip of Taipa Island for protection against pirate raids over merchant ship that prey for booty over the prosperous sea trade in the Pearl River.
The columns are part of the fake façade that was added afterwards, built probably, when the main building become a summer resident for the Macau governor.
To small rooms in the main building served as kitchen and other as a jail. On a higher ground was located storehouses and a Arsenal.
The style is very simple and typical practice in Macau; masonry walls and roof tiles with some decorations in stucco. The glass windows have external timber shutters (French window).
The foundation of the exterior wall as well the foundations and basement of each building is granite. This was not only because of military reasons but also as protections against de endemic termites’ attacks.
The platforms are paved in cobblestones. In the beach was built a pier for small boats commuting between Macau and islands. Seaplanes slide calmly in the fortress waterfront.
An original 1855 canon, the only remaining of the seven original pieces, still visible in the entrance platform.
In 1999 the building was offered to from the police force (that have a new station) to the Chinese Boys Scouts Association.