It was originally constructed in 1635 with the intention of protecting fishing grounds for tuna as well as defending the coast.

According to a report of the parish priest of Aljezur, "the sea reached 30 fathoms (54 metres) and returned three times, crashing against the walls of the fortress with such impetus…., [leaving] standing only the battery and the walled curtain of the entrance door".

[3] Due to its strategic position the fort was rebuilt in 1762 by orders of the Governor of the Kingdom of the Algarve, the Marquis of Louriçal.

Attempts by that ministry to get the Portuguese Navy to take responsibility for it failed, the navy arguing that "...the dismantled ruins of an old stronghold [are] without the slightest interest, either historical or artistic, [with] nothing justifying their conservation in the possession of the State.”[3] From 2007 the front wall and entrance were reconstructed by the Municipality of Aljezur at a cost of around €100,000.

[3] A small archaeological study was carried out in 2011, identifying that the original construction involved walls of stone and mortar built directly on top of the rock.