Built to last
The fort used to hold 79 cannons and store lots of water, a big deal in Asia back then.
The fort has two parts: the top defended ships and stored water, while the bottom kept Portuguese ships safe. It's got a moat, secret passages, and even an underground room for gunpowder.
Fort Aguada was super important for the Portuguese, covering a whole peninsula. It guarded the mouth of the Mandovi River, a key spot against the Dutch.
Later, during the Salazar Administration, the fort became a prison, mainly for Salazar's political enemies.
The guiding light
The Aguada lighthouse, built in 1864, sits on a hill west of the fort. It's one of Asia's oldest and sits between Mormugao peninsula and Calangute beach. After nearly a century, it was replaced by a newer one in 1976.
Fun fact: The lighthouse had a big bell from the ruins of Saint Augustine monastery in Old Goa.