Ilha Fiscal

In Guanabara Bay, right across from Downtown, Ilha Fiscal looks like something out of a fairy tale: a small neo-Gothic castle with a tower, pointed arches and stained-glass windows, standing on an islet next to Ilha das Cobras.

The building was designed by engineer Adolfo José Del Vecchio and completed in 1889 as a customs post, in charge of inspecting the ships arriving at the port — hence the island’s name (from fiscalizar, “to inspect”). It was one of the last major works of the Empire.

The island went down in history on November 9, 1889, when it hosted a grand ball given by the imperial government in honor of Chilean navy officers. It was the monarchy’s last great party: six days later, on November 15, the Republic was proclaimed. That is why the event became known as “the last ball of the Empire”.

Today the island is managed by the Brazilian Navy. The guided visit takes you through the restored rooms and tells the story of the building, the ball and life at court. When the trip is made by boat, the crossing itself offers lovely views of Downtown and the bay.

The highlight is the architecture: the tower, the stained glass, the floors and the iron and wood details make the building a late-19th-century jewel — and one of the most photogenic sights on the bay, especially against a blue sky.