Strategically located on an elevation on the right bank of the Paraíba River bar, initially as a small quadrangular fort of wood and earth at Ponta do Cabedelo, between the river and the sea. A landmark of the occupation and defense of Paraíba since the late 16th century, the fortification aimed to control river and sea access to the region. Over time, its structure evolved significantly: it gained bastions in the 17th century, totaling four, as well as a dry moat during the Dutch invasions. From 1638, under the order of Maurício de Nassau, the structure was altered with brick walls, a change in the gate's position, and internal dependencies. In the 18th century, it received stone walls, a moat with water, an outer wall, four bastions, and two demi-bastions, reaching its current irregular shape with two bastions and four points, having a moat with an entrance from the sea and a counterscarp, with a full-arched portal with columns and a coat of arms, using ashlar stones brought from Lisbon as ship ballast. Currently surrounded by land next to the port and distant from the sea due to landfill, the fortification has two of its bastions and their demi-bastions partially collapsed, and the moat no longer exists. Open to the public since 1984, it remains an important tourist attraction on the Paraíba coast, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage candidate ensemble, and there are discussions about its shared management involving UFPB.