at a glance
pedra do pontal is also called pedra do pontal tim maia, in honor of the famous song do leme ao pontal (from leme to pontal) by tim maia, the father of brazilian soul music. this beach is edged on one side by pedra do pontal de sernambetiba, a 120 meter tall granite rock joined to the beach by a thin trail of sand, and on the other side by the rock named pedra de itapuã. notably, pedra de itapuã is a natural monument, land-marked by the city to commemorate a failed attempt by the french pirate jean françois duclerc to disembark here and conquer the city in 1710. in 1711, however, rio was taken hostage for two months during the last attempt by the french to create 'antarctic france' - more about this episode can be read on this page.
