ilha das cobras is
located at the shore of the central region of rio de janeiro,
connected to the saúde neighborhood by a small bridge.
its name can be translated to
english as 'snake island' and came to be because the first
portuguese colonizers exploring
guanabara bay found an unusual
quantity of snakes living
onthis island.
it was initially owned by a
local slaver, before he was forced to sell it in 1589, to the
monks from the local saint benedict monastery.