praia de gragoatá was named after the
bromelia (tillandsia
cyanea), a type of flower abundant in the area, and
also called gravatá, or caroá.
set just
by the forte de gragoatá,
a fort built between the xvii and xviii century, formerly known
as forte de são domingos,
in honor of the saint patron of the nearby chapel
paróquia de são domingos.
gragoatá
beach is also near the campus of the
universidade federal
fluminense, one of the most important
universities in rio de janeiro state.