at a glance
on the opposite side of copacabana beach, another landmark building cannot be missed by visitors - the fort of copacabana - this fort was made operational in 1823, its set up was one of the first orders by dom joăo iv, then emperor of brazil and was part of a measure to deter and ensure the defense of the city of rio de janeiro from any retaliatory attack by the mighty portuguese armada.
the tip of copacabana was the perfect strategic site for that purpose - and the care and importance that was placed into its construction is evidenced by its still standing 12 meter thick walls.
this military base was then disbanded on 1834 only to be armed and made operational again in 1893 during a period of post-republican turbulence that witnessed a revolt by the brazillian navy.
