In 1602, on Morro do Padrão at the entrance of the Bay of All Saints in Bahia, the Santo Antônio Lighthouse was built. At first, it was a limestone and stone fortress to defend the city of Salvador.

Built with the purpose of defending the Amazon, especially from the prospect of a French invasion (the French had already occupied the territory of Guyana), it occupies a vast area on the left bank of the mouth of the Amazon River in the capital of Amapá.