The exhibition Morocco–Portugal: Gates of the Mediterranean was held with the collaboration of the National Commission for the Discoveries. Our participation resulted from an invitation by Cláudio Torres and Santiago Macias of the Campo Arqueológico de Mértola, following a project they had been preparing and developing for several years. It was inaugurated in September 1999, in Tangier, during the 5th Luso-Moroccan Summit, which was attended by Prime Minister António Guterres.
I was responsible for the audiovisual component of the exhibition and served as delegated producer for the National Commission for the Discoveries in a co-production with the Moroccan Ministry of Culture. While filming the Fortresses video, I had the opportunity to fly over the Moroccan coast and take these photographs, both from the air and on the ground.
Some projects leave a lasting mark. This was undoubtedly one of them—not just because of the exhibition itself, but also due to the people I had the privilege to work with and share an unforgettable experience.
AGOUZ
Located north of the beach of Souira Qadima, this small fortress is likely the last one built by the Portuguese on the Moroccan coast, probably around 1520. Its purpose was to control access to the sea by local Berber tribes and the city of Marrakesh. However, the Portuguese presence here lasted for only about five years.
ALCÁCER SEGUER
Situated in the Strait area, at the entrance to the Mediterranean coast, nearly equidistant from Ceuta and Tangier, the fortress of Alcácer Seguer faces the sea. The crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar is therefore closely tied to its history—both in the Al-Andalus period, when it served as a base for those heading to the Iberian Peninsula, and during the Portuguese stronghold period, as support for coastal navigation in northern Morocco. Conquered by the Portuguese in 1471, it was later abandoned in 1549.
ARZILA
Also conquered by the Portuguese in 1471 by King Afonso V, during the same campaign that led to the capture of Tangier. Arzila became an important port and trade hub but was abandoned in 1549 due to high maintenance costs and constant military pressure.
AZEMOUR
Azemour was conquered in 1513 under the command of Jaime, Duke of Braganza, as part of territorial expansion along the Atlantic coast. The city held economic significance, with a prosperous port on the Oum Er-Rbia River. The Portuguese maintained it until 1541. Increasing military pressure and the difficulty of defending multiple outposts simultaneously led to its abandonment.
SAFI
Occupied by the Portuguese in 1508, Safi became one of the most important trade posts on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. It was strategic for trade in spices, sugar, and other goods, and served as a supply point for the Indian Ocean routes. The city was relinquished in 1541, during the reign of King John III, when the Portuguese Crown had to consolidate its military presence in fewer, more defensible locations.
EL-JADIDA
Captured in 1502, El Jadida—then known as Mazagan—was one of Portugal’s most significant fortresses in Morocco. The city was reinforced with advanced fortifications, including a star-shaped defensive system. In 1769, the Portuguese abandoned Mazagan following a prolonged siege by the forces of Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah.
ESSAOUIRA
In the early 16th century, the Portuguese built a fort on Mogador Island, near the coast of Essaouira, to protect trade routes. However, their presence was short-lived due to the difficulty of maintaining the fort and local resistance. Today, no visible remains of the Portuguese fortress survive.