Fortinho

The Fortinho or Fortim do Rei (pre 1945 spelling: Fortim d'El Rei) is a subdivision northwest of the historic center of the Mindelo in the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde and are one of the city's five oldest subdivisions.

View of the center and the south of Mindelo from Monte Fortinho

Lajinha and Ponte Joāo Ribeiro from Monte Fortinho

The subdivision is also a small hill elevating 43 meters high. Until the urban sprawl of the 1950s, it was the city's highest point, it was later replaced with Monte Cara in the 1990s.

Bordering subdivisions include Lajinha to the north bordered on an avenue named Dr. Alberto Leite, Chã de Alecrim to the northeast, Alto Miramar (Alto Mira) to the east, the city center (Morada) to the southeast and Porto Grande to the west. The eastern boundary partly borders on Rua Angola, 5 de Julho and the south of Parque Nhô Roque.

History

Right after the completion of the fort named Fortim d'El Rei in 1852 which defended the island from further pirate atttacks, the subdivision was also founded later its fortress was used as a prison.^[1] It was sparsely populated, the southern portion was first populated in the 1880s. Many of the residential areas especially in the east were built from 1950. Quarrying activity occurred in the north of the hill then in the south, buildings built in one of its old quarries. Until 1962, the neighbourhood included west of the hill which became its own subdivision of Porto Grande right after the port was relocated and enlarged. Before, it formed the westernmost point of the city, now it is further west even with the urban expansion during the last century. Later more numerous hotels were built including up to 10 stories in the northern part first opened around 2008 forming the island's tallest buildings. Its fortress was last renovated in 2009.^[2]

Avenida Marginal (EN1-SV01) at the south of Fortinho

About the subdivision

Large size homes dominate most of the area. The number of buildings are around under 100. In the eastern end is the Mindelo campus of Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde also the Technical School (Escola Técnica) is at its northern end.

Along the coastline in the west, Avenida Marginal runs in the limits, the western part belongs to Porto Grande, the area up to the ferry route forms a part of EN1-SV01. The south of Rua Angola has a small greenspace in the middle.

Fortinho has numerous hotels including Mindel, Don Paco, Casa Branca, Prassa 3 and Casa Eva, it also includes Alto Fortim, Arla and Jenny, both residential hotels. Restaurants include Maravilha, Le Flostel and Archote.

One of Mindelo's refinery named Portinho Velho is in the south of the hill and are operated by Shell.

Landmarks and points of interest

• Fortim d'El Rei - the most prominent landmark of the area
• Former British Consulate of Cape Verde - located in the south part - existed until 1975, no embassy would be built for Cape Verde in Praia by the United Kingdom, the residence of the British Ambassador to Cape Verde is in Dakar, Senegal.
• Mindel Hotel - considered the most famous hotel on the island, today it is not the most popular which is Hotel Porto Grande.
• Don Paco Hotel

Panoramics

At the hilltop, it is one part of the city that offers beautiful panoramics including the João d'Évora area of the north, the city center and the eastern part in the east and Monte Verde, Passarão in the southeast along with Madeiral and Monte Cara in the southwest. Also it offers views of the islet of Ilhéu dos Pássaros and the south of the island of Santo Antão.

Transportation

The subdivision along Avenida Marginal has its own transit line run by Transcor extending from the center of Mindelo at the yacht up to Lajinha at the circle with the road to Chã de Alecrim.

References

Coordinates: 16°53′27″N 24°59′34″W / 16.8908°N 24.9928°W / 16.8908; -24.9928