The construction of this Mannerist style monument began in the reign of D. Sebastião in 1577, aiming to defend the cove of attacks by Algerian, Moroccan, Dutch and Norman pirates who invested on the Atlantic coast. In 1644, and due to its position, the king D. João IV, the Restorer, ordered its remodeling and enlargement. As vigilant sentry of the fortress was S. Miguel Archangel, patron of many sanctuaries, generally constructed in elevated places. On the façade of the fort, on the portal of the entrance, D. João IV, he had a calcareous image of San Miguel Arcanjo, with the caption "ELREY DOM JUAN-1644", which marks the year of its construction.