The Defensor Perpétuo Fort Museum is devoted to the only surviving set of battlements in Paraty. It stands in a quaint whitewashed building of colonial design, surrounded by the thick vegetation of a tropical forest. Climb up the path that meanders through the forest to reach the fort.

Capture photos of the museum’s building, which has green window frames, shutters and doors. It dates back to the 18th century, when the town was known as Vila de São Roque. Learn how the fort served to protect the gold and sugar trades on the coast. It was one of the many military forts in the area that were built to protect the town from pirates and defend the port. Enjoy the views of Carioca Bay from the hill on which the building stands.

Note that the fort was rebuilt in the early 1800s in honor of Emperor Dom Pedro I, known as the Perpetual Defender of Brazil. Browse the array of intriguing artifacts displayed in the museum. Examine the range of guns and learn about gun powder and firing mechanisms. Inspect the historic cannons facing outwards toward the water.

The collection also contains certain tools used in the production of sugar. See other tools and instruments, including drums and an old guitar, found on a colonial farm. Find out about the slave industry that passed through Paraty and look at the various photos that show the local communities as they were many decades ago.

Keep in mind that the museum is closed on Mondays, opening Tuesday through Sunday from morning until late afternoon, with a short break for lunch. There is a fee to enter the museum.

The Defensor Perpétuo Fort Museum is a little northeast of the historic center of Paraty. It stands on a small peninsula that juts out into the Carioca Bay. Go to some of the other sights in the area, including beautiful Pontal Beach and Jabaquara Beach, as well as the Ilha dos Pássaros.