at a glance

later in the 20th century, during the years of the dictatorship, the fort was used to house political dissidents until 1987, when the authorities determined it would be the historical museum of the military.

the fort was built in the very same spot that was originally home to the small chapel that gave the name to this region of the city - 'nossa senhora de copacabana'. 

today, the fort houses a library and various expositions on brazilian military history and campaigns and the birth of brazilian nationalism.