It is located in small bit of land off the coast in the Baía de Todos os Santos.

Its design follows those of Castel Sant'Angelo in Italy and São Lourenço do Bugio Fort in Portugal.

The fort was completed in 1623 during the rule of Governor General Diogo de Mendonça Furtado; it was constructed entirely of wood with 19 artillery pieces of various calibers.

The fort played a decisive role in defending Bahia during an attempted invasion by Count Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen (1604-1679) between April and May, 1638.

[4][5][2][3] A reconstruction of the fort was ordered in 1650 by Governor-General João Rodrigues de Vasconcelos e Sousa (1649-1654) after the Portuguese Restoration War.

This period of building saw the construction of a turret at the highest point of the sand bar; it stands at 15 metres (49 ft).

The fort then held members of the Sabinada (1837–1838), a Bahian revolt that called for the abolition of slavery and the redistribution of land.