firstly in 1922 when the guns were fired to quell the riots at forte de copacabana, and again in 1930 in support of the revolutionaries of getúlio vargas, who were opposing president washington luís.

the magnificence of the structure remains today and the scars of battle are still evident. the stone watchtowers are now covered in creeping ivy. visitors are able to explore the corridors, galleries, tunnels and viewing platforms cut from the rock.