facing the sepetiba bay, and located in the neighborhood of pedra de guaratiba, praia da capela (beach of the chapel)  is a beach extending 300 meters along the coast.

the beach is named in honor of the landmark church nossa senhora do desterro,  rio's third oldest church, that is located near the beach, at rua barros de alarcão 1305.

legend has it that this church was built in the seventeenth century at the request of an blind indigenous woman who recovered her vision while being in the care of two local residents.