to the right of the beach, the ilha da boa viagem (boa viagem island) dominates the scenery, with the famous chapel nossa senhora da boa viagem set on top of it. 

this church, originally built in 1663 and then burned and re-built several times throughout history even as late as 1977, was declared national treasure by the instituto do patrimônio histórico e artístico national  (iphan) in 1938.

the church is reachable via a bridge starting at the beginning of the beach on avenida almirante benjamin sodre corner with rua roberto rowley mendes.