at a glance

the fort at the epicenter of this historic revolt sits on the southern end of the praia da copacabana (copacabana beach) - it was part of the brazilian coastal defense network and built in 1908 on a headland to defend copacabana beach, as well as rio's harbor entrance.  

the location was occupied by a small chapel dedicated to the patron saint of bolivia; the virgem de copacabana (virgin of copacabana) - this small chapel was demolished to make room for the construction of the fort - but the neighborhood owes its name to event that took place in 1746 right in that small chapel.

the history of copacabana's name starts at the frontier between the countries of peru and bolivia, in the copacabana peninsula, where there was a supposedly miraculous image of the virgin mary at the titicaca lake, called nossa senhora de copacabana (our lady of copacabana).