The forfication of Sant’Iago was erected in 1390 at Outão, some 10km West of Setúbal, by order of King D. João I. At the time it was erected as a watchtower or coastal tower. However, during works undertaken to expanse the fortress in the XVI century, traces of a roman temple dedicated to Neptune were found, testifying to an ancient occupation of this promontory.

 

In the third quarter of the XVI century a fortified wall was built around the original watchtower, responding to new wartime demands, partly related to the systematic use of gunpowder. Subsequently improvements were made, remodeling and expanding the structure and providing it with strategic updates that proved to create a proper defensive system to the mouth of the river Sado and the city of Setúbal.

 

In the XIX century, having lost the strategic significance of the past, the fort was converted to prison. In 1880 a lighthouse was put in place, moved down from a peak on the surrounding mountain range. The lighthouse sits on one of the existing bastions and is built with an hexagonal tower with lantern and a double balcony. Currently it operates automatically, being one of the symbols of the tower of Outão.

 

At the end of the XIX century the fort was adapted as an holyday residence for the royal family; this is when the beautiful apartments of the upper floor were created, decorated with fresco paintings on the walls and carved wood. Also from the same period are the pavillion and esplanade. In 1900 the Queen D. Amélia donated the fortress so that a sanatorium would be created, the first establishment from Assistência Nacional aos Tuberculosos. As tuberculosis infection became almost inexistent, the entire structure was made into a orthopedic hospital, the Hospital Ortopédico de Sant’Iago do Outão.

 

The three bastions over the sea front stand out from the old polygonal sea fortress, as well as the two bastions facing land, the glacis and wall, the circular garrisons at the angles and center of the wall facing land, and the canon platform to the ocean side. From the north, passing through two portals on a ramp, access is gained to the interior of the fortress, arriving to the atrium covered with a vaulted dome. In the center there is the old tower, defending the estuary, with vertical walls and old warfare openings at the angles. Around the tower there are two and three storey buildings, among which the chapel devoted to Sant’Iago, coated with blue and white joanine tiles representing the Virgin Mary and scenes from the life of Sant’Iago. The hospital quarters, built upon the old bunkers, have ample sun balconies facing west.