The whitewashed and turreted walls of the Fort of the Magi were built to last, and inside you’ll find a chapel, a well, cannons, and soldiers' quarters. If you don’t come for the history, come for the views—the fort's prime location at the tip of the peninsula affords fantastic vistas across the city to the south and the surrounding sand dunes. Most guided sightseeing tours of Natal, including day trips from João Pessoa, include a visit to the fort, along with other notable attractions like the Cathedral of Natal, Morro do Careca dunes, the Mãe Luíza Lighthouse, and a local beach.
The Fort of the Magi is north of Natal city, at the mouth of the Rio Potengi and at the very tip of the peninsula. To get there, catch a taxi to Av. Pres. Café Filho and walk up Av. Praia do Forte, or see it as part of a guided tour.
The fort is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Plan to arrive first thing in the morning during peak season—generally July and November through February—to avoid crowds.
The Fort of the Magi was built over a period of 30 years, right atop the reefs on the coast of Natal. While this offered a firm foundation for the structures, work could only be done when the tide was out, leading to a longer, more difficult construction period. Many of the materials used to build the fort, including bronze, stone, and sand, were imported from Portugal by ship.