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St.
Angelo Fort, the sea front fort was constructed in 1505 AD by the first
Portuguese Viceroy Don Francisco De Almeda with the consent of the ruling
Kolathiri Raja.
After changing hands from the Portuguese to the Dutch and then to the
English, the fort became one of the important military centers of the
British in Malabar. A huge triangular structure built of laterite, with a
moat and strong flanking bastions.
St. Angelo Fort was captured by the Dutch from the Portugese in 1663 AD
and sold off to Ali Raja of Kannur in 1772
AD. The British rebuilt it and made it the most important military base in
Malabar for their soldiers during the British colonial rule, after
capturing it in 1790 AD.
The fort, which is now under the Archaeological Survey of India, offers
fascinating views of the Mappila
Bay fishing harbour and
Dharmadam Island.