Fort Aguada, a huge defensive outpost built in 1612 that stretches across the entire Bardez peninsula, was designed to protect Goa from invasions by Dutch and Maratha invaders. A lighthouse on the site, added in the 19th century, also guided ships away from the nearby rocks.
The name Aguada relates to the freshwater spring that provided the fort with drinking water. The fort boasted a huge man-made cistern that could hold some 2 million gallons of water and allowed Portuguese ships to replenish their fresh water supplies after a sea crossing. Explore the fort and its grounds, or book a guided tour to learn more about the fort and its history.