[2] It consists of a coastal fortification, of the bastioned type, located on a rocky outcrop on the right bank of the mouth of the River Mira, in Vila Nova de Milfontes.

[3] The property is mainly in the Mannerist style, although it has some elements that create a typical Romantic ambience, such as the false turret and the ivy covering on the North and East facades.

[3] The writer Pinho Leal mentions in his 1886 work Portugal Antiga e Moderno that the castle had "a drawbridge, moats, barbacan, magazine, chapel, accommodation for the garrison, etc".

[4] In 2012, during works on Avenida Marginal, near Franquia beach and about 50 m from the fort, a curved masonry wall was discovered, with a structure in schist and local diorite, with lime mortar, which may have been built during Roman times or else connected to the fortress.

Several ceramic fragments were discovered at the site, commonly found at a well, in addition to that area being used by the population of Vila Nova de Milfontes after the well ceased to function, between the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the area, fragments of carvings of lithic materials in quartzite and greywacke, and remains of amphorae, possibly Roman, were also discovered, which however could have been brought together with the sand that was deposited there, during the works for the construction of a sports field.

[4] One of the biggest attacks took place during the beginning of the reign of John II, when the village was sacked and burned, to the point of being almost completely deserted, since the inhabitants abandoned it, taking refuge in the interior.

Thus, in 1598, the Neapolitan engineer Alexandre Massai was appointed by the Council of War to reconnoitre the area around the mouth of the Mira River, and find out how to organize its defense against pirates.

Both were part of a network of fortifications that were supposed to protect the coastal strip south of the River Sado, but this program was compromised due to the cancellation of the fort on Pessegueiro, which led to problems with the safety of the coastline and vessels.

According to Calixto Pereira, after Portugal regained its independence in 1640, the need to reinforce coastal defenses arose again in order to avoid a possible landing of enemy forces, this time from Spain, while also to repel pirate attacks, not only Muslims but also Protestants.

According to Calixto Pereira, after the end of the works, the fortress had six pieces of fire and a garrison of two companies of soldiers, and the inhabitants of the village and its hinterland were obligated to present themselves to the governor when the bell of the fort gave the signal of alarm.

João Maria Baptista states in his 1874 work Chorographia Moderna do Reino de Portugal, that the castle was already "dismantled", and Pinho Leal reports in 1886 that it was in ruins.

[1] In 1939 it was acquired by Luís Manuel de Castro e Almeida, who ordered major restoration works to be carried out, during which the structure was modified, with part of the fort being transformed into a private residence, while the remaining spaces were used as a tourist establishment.

[1] At this time, the interior of the fortress was also modified, including the excavation of the embankment and its connection to the moat by a door, and the expansion of the buildings in the elevated square, in order to expand the habitable area.

[5] In 1943, Carlos Pereira Calixto proposed the installation of an inn at the monument, since at that time there were no hotel establishments in the village in a position to receive tourists, who flocked to the beaches during the summer season.