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Copacabana beach is a spectacle to behold.
Beautiful sands, highlighted by emerald waters and scantily clad bodies are what many visitors come to the city for!
Plus, who can’t stop the Barry Manilow song “Copacabana” playing in your head!
Having participated in and beheld the spectacle that is Rio’s Carnivale the night before, sleep was what I needed most, but I also did not want to miss out on a warm, cloudless day! Forcing myself up and out of bed, I decided to head to the beach, but realizing that I had somehow forgotten my bathing suit, I decided that scantily clad is not what I wanted to shoot for!
Deciding that I would still go to the beach, it would just be in a different capacity. At the far end of the beach is Fort Copacabana and the least I could do would be to squeeze in a bit of Rio’s culture and history.
As an Uber took me through the crowded streets, filled with revelers, I was glad that I was protected inside a vehicle as I watched a young girl lose her phone to a quick-footed thief! Thankfully, my driver safely deposited me at the entrance to the fort soon after!
There are a few items of interest in the entrance courtyard, including a shrine to Santa Barbara, as well as the ticket counter to obtain entry, but after entering its giant white-washed portal, it is the sumptuous views of the Copacapana beaches and and the pristine waters of the Atlantic ocean that grab your attention. There are a few pieces of military equipment lining the sea wall and a couple of quaint cafes here to enjoy the views.
Dating back to its inception in 1914, the fort is a museum which showcases many exhibits pertaining to the Brazilian Army. It was one of the most modern installations of its time and was constructed to guard the entrance to Guanabara Bay and the adjacent coastline.
In 1922, the fort was involved in an unsuccessful military uprising but was eventually converted into the Army History Museum when there was no need for Coast Artillery Batteries.
The Army History Museum is the first part of the property that can be toured. It is filled with military memorabilia and exhibits on the Brazilian military’s history.
Continuing along the walkway, I entered the actual fort and made my way through each of the exhibits, some showcasing ammunitions and others, the living and work spaces of the soldiers assigned there I marveled at the beautiful tile work and iron works decorating the arched doorways. Exploring the infirmary and engine rooms, I made my way throughout the passageways, some decorated with dioramas depicting various events in the history of Brazil.
Of special interest within the main building is the small Chapel of the Senora of Copacabana. The fort was built on the peninsula where the original church of the Nossa Senhora de Copacabana was located and the shrine gave the soldiers a place to worship and pray.
The exterior and its grounds were a maze of walkways leading to the top of the fort where the ocean’s mighty waves crashed against its base and on its topmost location is a mighty cannon. It is the perfect place to grab a spot and enjoy the beauty of not only the fort but Rio itself.
So I didn’t get to enjoy the sunshine that afternoon at the beach. I got to enjoy the sunshine at the Fort while soaking up some of Brazil’s rich history. I think that is better than any tan!
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Historical Museum of the Army and Copacabana Fort
- http://www.mhexfc.eb.mil.br/pt-br/
- Address: Praça Coronel Eugênio Franco, 1, Rio de Janeiro – RJ 22070-020, Brazil
- Hours: 1000-1800, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays.
- Admission: Adults, R $6, Students, Teachers, Seniors, 60+ and Youth ID holders, R $3. Free, Members of the military and dependents, Seniors over 80 years, Disabled, Children under 6 years, Tour guides