On 1 September 1534 the King of Portugal created the "capitania" of Itamaracá, it was gave to the donatarian Pero Lopez de Sousa. This "capitania" extended over 30 "leguas" of coast: between the Santa Cruz Canal and Baia de Traição.

In this "capitania" was founded one of the first Brasilian settlements: Vila da Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Itamaracá (today Vila Velha). During the Dutch occupation Itamaracá reveled in wealth with Recife and Olinda. Fort Orange was built by the Dutch in 1631 (the project was by the engineer Pieter Van Bueren), the fortress is located by seaside and shelters a collection composed by Dutch maps and pieces from the Dutch period.