| The Fortazela de Santa Cruz was originally built on the site of earlier French fortifications from 1555. In 1567, the fortification was expanded into the key point for the defense of the Guanabara Bay. Called the Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra from 1632 onwards the fort was progressively strengthened before completely remodelled in the mid-1760s. Additional fortifications was constructed on the hillside behind the fort in the mid-1770s. |