There is no indication that one can visit this prison, which is inside the Naval Military Hospital on Ilha das Cobras. But visitation is indeed open to all, Mondays through Fridays. One must simply arrive at the Hospital entrance and ask to visit the cell.
The inconfidência mineira, a separatist movement, or conjuração, which called for the Portuguese domination of the state of Minas Gerais in order to establish an independent republic, was thwarted in 1789, and its leaders were arrested. Junior officer Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, popularly known as Tiradentes, was imprisoned here before being transferred to what was then known as Cadeia Velha, in the place where Tiradentes Palace now stands. Some sources, such as the book Tiradentes – esboço biográfico, uphold that Tiradentes was imprisoned on Ilha das Cobras for three years.
On April 18th, 1792, his judgment was read out in downtown Rio de Janeiro. 12 of the inconfidentes were sentenced to death. However, the queen of Portugal, Maria I, commuted all of their sentences, sending them into exile. Only Tiradentes was left to face the death penalty. He was publicly hanged on April 21st, 1792, in the square which today holds his name.
After the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889 – one century later – Tiradentes was held up as a martyr and national hero by the new regime, and today is one of the greatest symbols of Brazil.