Fort São José da Amura is the oldest standing structure in Bissau, a Portuguese military fortification built at the end of the 17th century on the bank of the Geba estuary. The fort was the strategic anchor of the Portuguese position in the region for two centuries and served as both a military base and a trading post for the slave trade. Within its walls, the modern history of Guinea-Bissau began: Amílcar Cabral used the fort as a political meeting ground in the founding years of the independence movement.
The fort is in a mixed state of repair — some sections are maintained, others crumbling. The location on the waterfront, overlooking the estuary and the port, is striking. It is accessible to visitors and the views from the walls over the river are the best in the city.