The attacks of the pirates to the "Villa Bela Princesa", old name of the Ilhabela, were frequent. To protect the island diverse forts defended by cannons had been constructed. According to the report of Anthony Knivet, the pirate Thomas Cavendish would have buried a fabuloso treasure at Castelhanos beach in 1591. Still not discovered until now.
A canon appears now days on the arms of the Iland.