Mount Fortress

Welcome to the hilltop that once saved an entire city. Mount Fortress, or Fortaleza do Monte, sits fifty-two metres above Macao on the highest point of the peninsula, and the panoramic view from up here is simply spectacular. But this is far more than a scenic lookout. This is where Macao's survival was secured in one of the most dramatic battles in the city's history. The Jesuits began building this fortress in 1617 as part of their college complex, and it was completed in 1626. It was designed as the city's principal military defense, with walls stretching across an area of roughly ten thousand square metres. Cisterns were built to store water, and granaries held enough food to sustain the entire population of Macao for up to two years in the event of a siege. Cannons were positioned to cover every possible approach by sea and land. That foresight proved critical on June 24, 1622, when a Dutch fleet of thirteen warships and over eight hundred soldiers attacked Macao. The Portuguese garrison was badly outnumbered. Most of the soldiers were away, and the defense fell largely to African slaves, Jesuits, and civilians. The story goes that a Jesuit priest, Father...