ɪts pɹˈɑːmɪnənt loʊkˈeɪʃən ˌoʊvɚlˈʊkɪŋ ðə kˈoʊst, wɪð ˌʌp tʊ ɐ hˈʌndɹɪd kˈɪləmˌiːɾɚz ʌv sˈiːboːɹd vˈɪzᵻbəl ɪn klˈɪɹ wˈɛðɚ,  ænd ˈiːvən ðɪ ˈæfɹɪkən kˈoʊst, wʌz ɛkstɹˈiːmli jˈuːsfəl æɾə tˈaɪm wɛn pˈaɪɚɹəsi ænd ɪnvˈeɪʒən wɜː kˈɑːmənplˌeɪs.
Its prominent location overlooking the coast, with up to a hundred kilometres of seaboard visible in clear weather,  and even the African coast, was extremely useful at a time when piracy and invasion were commonplace.