A fortress can be a construction developed for defensive purposes.
The concept of strength has multiple uses. It is presented, for example, as a synonym for force or vigor , as can be seen in examples such as "I admire Elena's strength to overcome such a hard blow" or "Javier will need a lot of strength to get ahead."
On the other hand, a fortress describes a fortified space or place that is designed to withstand attacks or invasions. A castle and a citadel, to name a few, are fortresses. Likewise, a bastion (sometimes also referred to as a bulwark ) is a site that is projected towards the outside of the main structure of the fortress. The bastion has a pentagonal shape and constitutes the most solid and strong point for defense tasks.
The fortress as a defensive building
A broader concept is that of fortification, which refers to a military building constructed to serve as a defence during a war . The largest fortifications are fortresses, while medium-sized ones are called forts , and the smallest are called blockhouses .
In this architectural sense we can say that there are a large number of fortresses throughout the world. Among them we could highlight the one in the town of Mahón, in Menorca, which is called: Fortress of Isabel II.
It seems that the construction of this defensive structure began in 1849, by order of the monarch who gave it its name. The purpose of this structure was basically to achieve three goals: to serve as a refuge for her army, to become the base of operations for the army in this part of the Balearic Islands and finally to defend the port from possible English attacks.
This last mentioned objective was precisely what determined that this aforementioned fortress was erected at the entrance to the port and more exactly on the well-known La Mola Peninsula.
This site, which has the privilege of being the best example of civil architecture in Menorca in the 19th century, was completed in 1875. The ten fronts that were established there are striking, and they are grouped into two categories: on the one hand, those intended for maritime defence and on the other, those for land defence.
This was one way in which the Spanish army was perfectly prepared to face possible offensives launched by the British, and the latter saw the island as the perfect place to carry out their defensive settlement against the French. However, it should be noted that this Fortress of Isabel II was never attacked.
Fortaleza is a city in the Brazilian state of Ceará.
A cardinal virtue
For Christian doctrine, fortitude is a cardinal virtue that is based on defeating fear and fleeing from recklessness.
Strength, therefore, implies firmness in the face of difficulties and perseverance in the search for goodness and justice.
Fortaleza, Brazilian city
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará , a state located in the northeast of Brazil . It is a tourist center with internationally recognized beaches that receive thousands of tourists every year.
The city of Fortaleza is located 21 meters above sea level and is home to more than three million inhabitants. Its surface area is 319.1 km² and it is among the ten largest cities in Brazil.