Florianópolis

Florianópolis (also known as Floripa) is the capital city of Santa Catarina State in southern Brazil. It is an island city with a population of 369,102 (2003/IBGE). This magical island boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the world, because of it's large highway bridge that is closely monitored by both the civilian and military police. When a crime occurs, the perpetrator is usually caught leaving the island. This paradise island maintains very strict zoning regulations to keep over 60% of the island as protected nature reserves. For this and several other reasons, the island is currently seeing a very rapid growth rate in building development, population, and in property values, as people from around the world are flocking to this magical paradise island.

It is surrounded by smaller islands with forts which protected ships in the 17th century. Most of the population lives in its northern half. The southern half is more isolated and less developed. Though originally settled by Portuguese (from the Islands of Açores), like the rest of Brazil, the city has a heavy German and Italian influence. Florianópolis is a popular destination for South American tourists, because of its location and white sand beaches.

Florianópolis
State	Santa Catarina
Area:	437 km²
Population:	369 102 (Estimate: 07/2003)
Height:	3 m above sea level
Postcode (CEP):	88000-000
Geographic location:	27° 35' South 48º 35' West
Address of the local government:	Prefeitura Municipal de Florianópolis Rua Conselheiro Mafra, 656 Centro Florianópolis
Website:	www.pmf.sc.gov.br
Contact:	e-mail (http://www.pmf.sc.gov.br/anexos/contato.htm)
Map

Florianopolis Main Church

History

Official Symbols of Florianopolis

Beaches

There are about 42 well known beaches at Florianópolis island, but more than 100 in all. The most know beaches are:

Jurerê - Most developed and organized; biggest houses.
Joaquina - Nice dunes, very good waves.
Mole - Mostly surfers. Known for its soft (mole) sand.
Moçambique - Huge extension, surfers, camping.
Armação - For surfers, fishermen, unpopulated.
Ingleses - Family beach resort.
Santinho - With a famous 5 star resort known for being one of the cleanest beaches in Brazil.
Canasvieiras - People from Argentina love it.

Hercílio Luz Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Florianópolis

Bathed by forty two beaches, Florianópolis is a wonderful sight for the visitor. Situated on the Island of Santa Catarina, the capital of the state of Santa Catarina has a landscape sprinkled with lakes, sand dunes and small islands all along the coast. The inviting waves on beaches such as Joaquina have encouraged successive national and international surfing championships to be held here. Beaches such as Canasvieiras and Jurerê with hotels and sophisticated restaurants, compete with the rustic charm of beaches such as Campeche, Ponta dos Naufragados and Solidão.

Along the coast, a series of fortresses built to withstand invasion by the Spanish and Dutch during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are a relic from the colonization of the state. Amongst them are the Fortress of Santa Cruz on the Island of Anhatomirim, the Fortress of São José da Ponta Grossa between the beaches of Daniela and Jurerê, registered as Historical Heritage, and Santo Antônio, on the Island of Ratones Grande. In Pântano do Sul, also on the coast, is the capital's most authentic fishing village.

Originally colonized by the Portuguese of the Azores, Florianópolis retains many traces of its early years. The small village of Santo Antônio de Lisboa is an example of architecture of that period and in Ribeirão da Ilha, the oldest part of the capital, the inhabitants still speak the Azorean dialect which is difficult to understand at first. In Ribeirão da Ilha is the church of Our Lady of Lapa do Ribeirão, built in 1806. Lagoa da Conceição, with its many sand dunes, restaurants and seaside night life and where women make lace to sell in the street, has also managed to retain many traces of its colonial architecture.

The centre of Florianópolis, with its alleys, rows of typical houses, churches and museums, contains many examples of colonial architecture. Amongst these are the former government palace, nowadays the Cruz e Souza Museum (which took its name from the famous poet from Santa Catarina who formed the symbolist movement) and the Public Market built in 1898 which sells food and local handicrafts under the shade of a one hundred year old fig tree. Close to the centre is the house where Victor Meirelles was born, one of the authors who devised the first mass spoken in Brazil. The building is registered by the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage and houses the Victor Meirelles Museum.

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