Fortaleza de São José da Amura
A Portuguese star-shaped fort begun in 1696, home to the tomb of independence leader Amílcar Cabral, and still used as a military barracks.
Fortaleza de São José da Amura was begun by the Portuguese in 1696 and rebuilt in the 18th century as a square stone fort with four corner bastions. It is the oldest building in Bissau. After independence it became the headquarters of the Guinea-Bissau armed forces. Inside the compound is the tomb of the founding father Amílcar Cabral, who was assassinated in Conakry in 1973, along with the graves of other independence heroes. Because the site is a military zone, entry requires showing your passport at the gate and obtaining permission from the duty officer. Photography is generally not allowed, so it is best to ask a local guide or your hotel to help arrange a visit. The outer walls and ramparts can be viewed from the streets of the old town.
Opening hours
Permit required (daytime)
Nearby sights
- Bissau Cathedral
- Bissau Velho
- Pidjiguiti Memorial
- Praça dos Heróis Nacionais
- Bandim Market
- National Ethnographic Museum
- Quinhamel
- Bolama