Due to the instability of the time of the recent invasion of Recife, the fort was built of wood and earth in a pentagonal shape, surrounded by palisades and a shallow moat, a characteristic that gave it the name "Cinco Pontas" (Five Points) because its original structure had five points (bastions). In 1638, Governor Maurício de Nassau ordered the fort to be reformed, as it was damaged by the weather. In 1654, it was captured by the Portuguese and renamed Forte das Cacimbas, later called Forte de São Tiago. During the reform of 1684, it lost one of its bastions, retaining the current four. It maintained military activity until the beginning of the 20th century. It was listed in 1938, restored in 1979, becoming the Museu da Cidade do Recife from 1982, which it currently houses. The fortification is part of the UNESCO World Heritage candidate ensemble.