It was built southeast of Praia Grande, in front of Taipa channel.

[1] The fort was originally an artillery battery which sank the Dutch warship Gallias during the Battle of Macau.

[3] The fort was incorporated into the Monastery of Saint Francis, built by Spanish missionaries in 1580, but it closed in 1834 and was demolished in 1861.

[1] Five years later the fort became headquarters for the São Francisco Barracks to house the 4th Line Battalion that was transferred to Macau in 1864.

[1] Its artillery included a culverin that could fire a 17 kg cannonball across the channel.