The fort defended the northern limit of Salvador at its time of construction 17th century.

The first fort of Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo was constructed by Diogo Luís de Oliveira, the Count of Miranda and governor of the Captaincy of Bahia from 1627 to 1635.

A full structure of stone and mortar was constructed from the late 17th to the early 18th century.

[2][4] The Secretaria do Estado dos Negócios da Justiça (State Department of Justice) transformed the fort into a prison in 1830.

The City of Salvador requested transfer of ownership of the structure from the Secretariat of Justice in 1978.