Imagine this island emerging from Guanabara Bay. This is Ilha das Enxadas. It is part of the Santa Bárbara Archipelago. The island’s story is as captivating as the views it offers.
Our journey begins in 1619. The governor Rui Vaz Pinto allowed Carmelitas religious order to extract stones. These stones were for building the Carmo Convent and Church. This act marked the island on the map. It was known then as Ilha de Vaz Pinto.
Fast forward to the early 19th century. Captain Filipe Antônio Barbosa owned the island. He had a two-story house. There was also a chapel, a warehouse, and a pier. In 1808, the Portuguese Royal Family arrived in Brazil. Prince Regent D. João requisitioned Ilha das Enxadas. It served as a hospital for English sailors for a short time.
In 1817, the Royal Prince Volunteer Battalions came to Rio de Janeiro. The São Cristóvão Lazaretto Hospital was moved to Ilha das Enxadas. It remained there until 1823.
1869 marked a new chapter. The Imperial Government acquired the island. It became a storage depot for construction material. This material was for the Marine Arsenal of Rio de Janeiro facilities. Later, Ilha das Enxadas became home to naval schools. These included the Naval Aviation School and the Naval School. The Naval Physical Education School also resided here.
During the Armada Revolt in 1893, the island served as a prison. Ilha das Enxadas became a fictional backdrop in Lima Barreto’s novel. The novel is called “The Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma”.
June 17, 1922, was a landmark day. The Santa Cruz seaplane landed in the waters near Ilha das Enxadas. Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral were aboard. They were legendary aviators. They completed the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic.
Since December 1945, the Almirante Wandenkolk Instruction Center has been located here. A conservationist hatchery was installed. It once housed over 80 birds. These birds came from Brazilian fauna and other countries.
Ilha das Enxadas even has its own zip code: 20180-003. The island is listed as being in the Guanabara Bay neighborhood. This detail adds to the island’s unique identity. Today, Ilha das Enxadas continues to play a vital role. It provides education and training to officers. They come from various Navy divisions.
From its humble beginnings as a stone quarry to its current role as an instruction center. Ilha das Enxadas has witnessed centuries of Brazilian history. Its story is etched in the stones of its buildings and the waves that surround it.