in 1710, a french force of 1,200 men under the command of admiral j. f. duclerc anchored near ilha do frade at the outset of their attempt to invade rio de janeiro.

one of various french endeavors to wrest the area from portuguese colonizers, this particular expedition ended swiftly, as portuguese forces had been alerted to the french presence before their arrival. the majority of the attackers were captured and held in prison until a rescue force could be sent on their behalf.

a modern-day attraction here is the grupo frade (frade group), an assemblage of locals who conduct nature walks crisscrossing guaratiba and the surrounding areas. the group was named in homage to the island nearby and works tirelessly with the backing of the lifeguards from the fire department, to both protect the environment and introduce others to its beauty.