Some authors point to a 15th-century origin, during the reign of King John III or Sebastian, although few proofs have been identified, except for a small chapel dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria.

[1] At the time many of the older medieval castles of Ferragudo and Portimão were already unable to support the defense of the coast to these limits, from pirates, corsairs and maritime invasions.

[1] The obvious choice at the time was along the edge of Praia da Rocha (referred to as Ponta de Santa Catarina) where a hermitage had once existed (and had been integrated in to a new fort) along the southern extent of Portimão's territory.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake damaged the fortress, with the public works to reconstruct the structure divided into a period immediately after the event (essential repairs), while the remainder was carried out in the 1790s.

Situated in the urban context of Portimão, on the extreme eastern portion of the Praia da Rocha, it is accessible by a staircase implanted into the cliffs.