at a glance

vila militar is a neighborhood located in the zona oeste (west zone) of rio de janeiro - the bairro (neighborhood) is bordered by deodoro, campo dos afonsos, jardim sulacap, realengo, magalhães bastos and ricardo de albuquerque.

the neighborhood's name and its origins are connected to brazil's military activities in the area during the early twentieth century - there were several battalions and regiments stationed in the center of rio in são cristóvão.

they were located at the campo de santana (santana field) in the old arsenal de guerra (war arsenal) - the arsenal is now the museu histórico (history museum) of the fortaleza de são joão (fort saint john).

at the turn of the twentieth century, the marshal of the army hermes da fonseca transferred several of the battalions (first and second) of infantry regiments to a new military village.