at a glance

the peculiar geographical situation of the island made those hills easily defendable and ideal for the establishment of a town. this was the thinking behind the decision of estácio de sá, to set the funding stone of what would be rio de janeiro in the sand strip north of sugar loaf, in 1565. at the time the portuguese were at war with the french colonizers, and the decision was considered tactically sensible.

following the defeat of the french two years later, estácio de sá's successor, mem de sá, decided to establish the core of the city on the mainland - the original buildings would then become known as the old city.

nowadays the area is still heavily characterized by the military presence, especially on the side facing the ocean. it features the são joão fort in the outmost slope of cara de cão, facing  the entrance of guanabara bay.