Built in the 17th century, Monte Fort was once a defensive stronghold used to protect the burgeoning colony from pirates and invaders. Today, it offers a glimpse into Macau’s colonial past with its well-preserved battlements and historic cannons. Barracks and storehouses were designed to allow the fort to survive a two-year siege, but the cannons were fired only once – during the aborted attempt by the Dutch to invade Macau in 1622.
From the fort's summit you can gaze out over major Macau's landmarks, including the Ruins of the Church of St Paul, the Guia Lighthouse (part of the Guia Fortress & Chapel), the architecturally distinctive Grand Lisboa Casino, the Macau Tower and the modern skyscrapers of Portas do Cerco.
