Florianópolis () is the capital and second largest city of the state of
Santa Catarina, in the
South region Southern Region or South Region may refer to:
* Southern Nigeria
* Southern Region (Boy Scouts of America)
* Southern Region, Bauchi, Nigeria
* South Region, Brazil, an official grouping of states for economic and statistical purposes
* Southern R ...
of
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
. The
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
encompasses
Santa Catarina Island and surrounding small islands, as well as part of the mainland. It has a population of 508,826, according to the 2020 IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) population estimate, the second-most populous city in the state (after
Joinville), and the
47th in Brazil. The metropolitan area has an estimated population of 1,111,702, the
21st largest in the country. The city is known for having the country's third highest
Human Development Index score among all Brazilian cities (0.847).
The economy of Florianópolis is heavily based on
information technology,
tourism, and services.
The city has 60
beaches and is a center of
surfing
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
activity.
Lagoa da Conceição is the most famous area for tourism, recreation, nature, and extreme sports. ''
The New York Times'' reported that "Florianopolis is the Party Destination of the Year in 2009."
''
Newsweek'' placed Florianópolis in its "ten most dynamic cities of the world" list in 2006.
''
Veja Veja may refer to :
Places
* Veja, a town in Lazio, central Italy; now Vejano comune
* Veja, a village in Stănița Commune, Neamț County, Romania
* Veja River, Romania
* Veja State, a former princely state in present Gujarat, western India
P ...
'', a Brazilian publication, named the city as "the best place to live in Brazil."
As a result of this exposure, Florianópolis is growing as a
second home destination for many
Paulistas,
Argentines,
Uruguayans,
U.S. citizens
Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Constitut ...
, and
Europeans
Europeans are the focus of European ethnology, the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the states of Europe. Groups may be defined by common genetic ancestry, common language, or both. Pan and Pfeil (2004) ...
.
Florianópolis is also commonly known by the nicknames ''Floripa'' and ''Ilha da Magia'' (Magic Island). Most of the population lives on the mainland and on the island's central and northern parts. The southern half is less inhabited. Many small commercial fishermen populate the island. The fishing boats, the lacemakers, the folklore, the cuisine and the
colonial architecture contribute to the growing tourism and attracts resources that compensate for the lack of any large industry. Villages immersed in
tradition and
history, such as Santo Antônio de Lisboa and Ribeirão da Ilha still resist the advances of modernity.
The
Hercílio Luz International Airport serves the city. Florianópolis is home to the
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Federal University of Santa Catarina). There are also the
(Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina), and two campuses of the
Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (State University of Santa Catarina), among other institutions of higher and professional education.
Etymology
The name Florianópolis was meant to be a tribute to Marshal
Floriano Peixoto, the
second President (1891–1894) of the
Republic of the United States of Brazil
The First Brazilian Republic, also referred to as the Old Republic ( pt, República Velha ), officially the Republic of the United States of Brazil, refers to the period of Brazilian history from 1889 to 1930. The Old Republic began with the de ...
and from
Greek term ''polis'', meaning "city". Until 1893, the city was called ''Nossa Senhora do Desterro'' (Our Lady of Banishment) or simply ''Desterro''.
Geography
Vegetation
Florianópolis has a native
Atlantic Forest
The Atlantic Forest ( pt, Mata Atlântica) is a South American forest that extends along the Atlantic coast of Brazil from Rio Grande do Norte state in the northeast to Rio Grande do Sul state in the south and inland as far as Paraguay and th ...
-type vegetation. This vegetation has an extremely diverse and unique mix of vegetation and forest types. The main
ecoregion is the coastal Atlantic forest, the narrow strip of about along the coast which covers about 20 percent of the region. This forest extends as far as inland and its range is as high as 2,000 meters above sea level.
Altitude determines at least three vegetation types in the Atlantic Forest: the lowland forest of the coastal plain, montane
forests, and the high-altitude grassland or "campo rupestre."
The municipality contains part of the offshore
Marinha do Arvoredo Biological Reserve
Arvoredo Marine Biological Reserve ( pt, Reserva Biológica Marinha do Arvoredo) is a Biological reserve off the coast of the Santa Catarina state, Brazil.
Location
The Biological Reserve, which covers , was established on 12 March 1990.
It lies ...
, a fully protected conservation unit established in 1990.
It also contains part of the
Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, a mountainous area covered in lush forests.
The park protects the sources of the
Vargem do Braço,
Cubatão and
Una rivers, which supply most of the drinking water for greater Florianópolis and the south coast region.
The municipality contains the
Rio Vermelho State Park in the northeast of
Santa Catarina Island, created in 2007.
Precipitation
There is significant
precipitation which is well distributed throughout the year. The annual normal precipitation for the period of 1961 through 1990 was .
There is no dry season, and summer generally is the rainiest season. Increased
rainfall occurs from January to March, with a median of per month, and from April to December there is somewhat less precipitation, averaging per month. The driest months are from June to August.
Climate
Florianópolis experiences a warm
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
(
Koppen: Cfa), falling just short of a true
tropical climate. The seasons of the year are distinct, with a well-defined summer and winter, and characteristic
weather for
autumn
Autumn, also known as fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September ( Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Sou ...
and spring. Due to the proximity of the sea, the relative
humidity of the
atmosphere
An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A s ...
is 80% on average.
The maximum
temperatures of the hottest month varies from and the minimum temperatures are from . The lowest temperature ever recorded was in September 1980 while the highest temperature ever recorded was in February 1973.
History
Carijós Indians, a
Tupi people
A subdivision of the Tupi-Guarani linguistic families, the Tupi people were one of the largest groups of indigenous Brazilians before its colonization. Scholars believe that while they first settled in the Amazon rainforest, from about 2,900 ...
, were the first inhabitants of the Florianópolis area. The traces of its presence are verified through archaeological sites and
sambaquis dating up to 4000 years ago. The Indians called the place Meiembipe or "mountain along the channel".
Around 1514 the
Portuguese landed and gave the area the name Ilha dos Patos, but in 1526 it was renamed Ilha de Santa Catarina (Saint Catherine's Island). The area supplied the vessels that went to the River Plate (Río de la Plata) Basin.
The official settlement of the
island began in 1673 with the arrival of
bandeirante Francisco Dias Velho's agricultural company and it continued in 1678 with the construction of a
chapel
A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common typ ...
consecrated to Nossa Senhora do Desterro. At this time a villa began to take form, slowly becoming a
colonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:
* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology)
Architecture
* American colonial architecture
* French Colonial
* Spanish Colonial architecture
Automobiles
* Colonial (1920 a ...
settlement.
To guarantee its domain the
Portuguese Crown elevated Santa Catarina Island to the category of village in 1714 with the name of Nossa Senhora do Desterro and already in 1726 they promoted it again, now to the category of
town.
From this date on Vila do Desterro and mainly the port began to have a strategic function because it was situated halfway between
Rio de Janeiro and
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the Capital city, capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata ...
, possibly two of the largest seaside cities of
South America at that time. For this reason in 1739 the Capitania da Ilha de Santa Catarina was created and Desterro became its capital. Soon the most expressive seaside defensive ring of
Southern Brazil
The South Region of Brazil (; ) is one of the five regions of Brazil. It includes the states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina, and covers , being the smallest region of the country, occupying only about 6.76% of the territory ...
started to be built: Santa Cruz, São José da Ponta Grossa, Santo Antonio and Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Barra do Sul
fortress
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
es.
With the coming of the
Captaincy
A captaincy ( es, capitanía , pt, capitania , hr, kapetanija) is a historical administrative division of the former Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires. It was instituted as a method of organization, directly associated with the home-rule ...
the population began to grow, but the great population growth happened between 1747 and 1756 with the arrival of about 6,000 settlers coming from the Archipelago of
Azores and from
Madeira Island
Madeira is a Portuguese island, and is the largest and most populous of the Madeira Archipelago. It has an area of , including Ilhéu de Agostinho, Ilhéu de São Lourenço, Ilhéu Mole (northwest). As of 2011, Madeira had a total population of ...
. The development of the agriculture, the cotton and linen industry and the commerce followed the Azorean occupation.
In 1823, during the monarchy which ended in 1889, Desterro became the Capital of Santa Catarina Province opening a period of prosperity with many urban works and also intense
political
organization.
Regional elites not happy with the government centralization staged the
Federalist Revolt at the beginning of the
Brazilian Republic
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
. The movement that started in
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul (, , ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative_units_of_Brazil#List, fifth-most-populous state and the List of Brazilian st ...
spread to Santa Catarina and turned Desterro into the Federalist Capital of the Republic. The then president of Brazil, marshal
Floriano Peixoto, known as the Iron Marshal, suppressed the rebellion and ordered the shooting of many people who were considered enemies of the state, in the
Anhatomirim Island Fortress. Possibly to show loyalty to the marshal, 1893 saw the change of the state
capital
Capital may refer to:
Common uses
* Capital city, a municipality of primary status
** List of national capital cities
* Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences
* Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...
's name: from Desterro to Florianópolis, that is to say, city of Floriano.
Demographics
According to the
IBGE of 2007, there were 406,564 people residing in the city (in 2010 IBGE reports a population of 421,240). The population density was . The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 356,142
White people (84.55%), 41,009
Pardo (
Multiracial
Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-ethn ...
) people (9.74%), 20,839
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
people (4.95%), 2,196
Asian people (0.52%) and 1,028
Amerindian people (0.24%).
Florianópolis has a
population mostly composed of Brazilians of
European descent
White is a racialized classification of people and a skin color specifier, generally used for people of European origin, although the definition can vary depending on context, nationality, and point of view.
Description of populations as ...
. The numbers of immigrants started to increase in the mid-18th century, mostly with the arrival of
Portuguese colonists from the
Azores Islands. The population of Florianópolis was composed mainly of Portuguese/Azoreans, Germans, and Italians. Further south, some neighborhoods preserve their
rural village identity. The cultural heritage left by their Azorean ancestors is noticeable in their dialect, in handicrafts, and traditional festivities.
The small
village of Santo António de Lisboa (Saint Anthony of Lisbon) is an example of colonial period architecture and in Ribeirão da Ilha, the oldest part of the
capital
Capital may refer to:
Common uses
* Capital city, a municipality of primary status
** List of national capital cities
* Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences
* Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...
, the inhabitants speak in an accent closer to the
Azorean
)
, motto=
( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace")
, anthem=( en, "Anthem of the Azores")
, image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg
, map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union
, map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...
dialect
The term dialect (from Latin , , from the Ancient Greek word , 'discourse', from , 'through' and , 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of linguistic phenomena:
One usage refers to a variety of a language that ...
of the first settlers. 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
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
.
The city is densely populated, with a population distribution of 623.68 inhab./km², the 6th highest in the state of Santa Catarina. The vast majority of Florianopólis residents live in the
urban area of the municipality, corresponding to 96.2% of its inhabitants, while 3.78% live in the
rural area of Florianópolis.
On the other side, the city has taken on a cosmopolitan air with the arrival of Brazilians from other states and
foreigners who chose to live there. The island, which at the beginning of the colonization period, was an important whale hunting centre, is today a technological pole of the IT industry. A State Capital of interest to
tourism, Florianópolis population in 2020 was estimated to be around 508,826 people in the city proper and 1,111,702 people in the metropolitan area.
Religion
According to the 2010 Brazilian Census, most of the population (63.68%) is Roman Catholic, other religious groups include Protestants and evangelicals (12.81%), Spiritists (7.48%),
Umbandists (0.66%), No religion (11.76%), and people with other religions (3.39%).
Economy
According to 2002 Sefaz statistics,
agricultural activities represented 0.05%,
manufacturing represented 3.41% and the
commerce
Commerce is the large-scale organized system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions directly and indirectly related to the exchange (buying and selling) of goods and services among two or more parties within local, regional, natio ...
and
service
Service may refer to:
Activities
* Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty
* Civil service, the body of employees of a government
* Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a pu ...
sector 96.54%.
Tourism is one of the staples of Florianópolis'
economy, and relates to not only Floripa's Azorean culture but also the fact that it is situated on the coastline. Its environmental restrictions on building and commercial development have been more or less strictly enforced, helping it to keep its original character.
The city has invested heavily in infrastructure, from roads to schools, and Florianópolis ranks high on development measures such as
literacy (97 percent) and
electrification (near 100 percent). By the late 1990s, private companies were flocking to the
island, or emerging from a
technology "
incubator" at the federal university. (Among the innovations it hatched: the
computerized voting machines that have reduced fraud and increased efficiency in
Brazilian elections
Brazil elects on the national level a head of state—the president—and a legislature. The president is elected to a four-year term by absolute majority vote through a two-round system. The National Congress (''Congresso Nacional'') has two ch ...
.) Local officials now say their aim is to be the
Silicon Valley of Brazil, with beaches.
In addition to its white sand beaches, Florianópolis offers many historical attractions, including the sites of the original Azorean colonists, the Lagoa da Conceição
lagoon, and Santo Antônio de Lisboa. Tourism in Florianópolis has grown significantly over the past 10 years, with increasing numbers of visitors coming from other large cities in Brazil (particularly
Porto Alegre,
Curitiba
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. The city's population was 1,948,626 , making it the eighth most populous city in Brazil and the largest in Brazil's South Region. The Curitiba Metropolitan area c ...
,
São Paulo and
Rio de Janeiro) as well as other South American countries (particularly Argentina, with direct flights offered daily from
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the Capital city, capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata ...
).
During the past decade technology and software development firms also experienced strong growth, and today
Information Technology services are one of the top revenue generators in Florianópolis. Several technology centers are spread around Florianópolis, making the city an important pole in this economic sector.
The
GDP for the city was R$323,264,000,000 (2019).
The
per capita income for the city was R$43,843 (2019).
Education
Educational institutions
* Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC);
* Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC);
* Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial (Senac/SC)
* Complexo de Ensino Superior de Santa Catarina (CESUSC);
* Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL);
* Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI);
* Centro Universitário Estácio de Sá de Santa Catarina;
* Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Santa Catarina (IFSC);
* and many others.
Primary and secondary schools
The Florianópolis high
schools that obtained the best results on the 2007 Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (National High School Exam) are Escola Autonomia, Colégio da Lagoa, Colégio Energia, Colégio Tendência, Colégio Expoente, Colégio Adventista de Florianópolis, Colégio Geração, Colégio de Aplicação UFSC, EEB Feliciano Nunes Pires, IFSC, Colégio Decisão, EEB Professor AníbalNunes Pires, Instituto Estadual de Educação, EEB Osmar Cunha, EEb Getúlio Vargas, EEB Presidente Roosevelt, EEB Professor Henrique Stodieck.
Tourism and lifestyle
Florianópolis is one of the most visited places in Brazil as it is an island with 42 beaches, lagoons and waterfalls.
Beaches
Lagoa da Conceição (Lagoon of Conceição) is the largest lagoon on the island of Florianopolis and one of the most visited area of the island by foreign travelers and backpackers. The area has the highest concentration of restaurants, bars, organic markets and shops. Many expats and Brazilian people from other cities choose to live by the lagoon because of its views, safety, nature and quality of life.
The lagoon is surrounded by mountains and has a canal linking to the ocean. The history of the region around the lagoon is a plus with all the folklore, netting tradition, old Portuguese architecture, graffiti, and an 18th-century church on the top of the hill. See panoramic view below.
The Holy Spirit Feast (''Festa do Divino'') is a festival that takes place 40 days after Easter. The celebration dates to the colonial era and includes a parade, music, and
street food.
Mole Beach (''Praia Mole'')
is one of the best known beaches close to the Lagoon of Conceição and is noted for its rolling green hills and rock formations on either side.
The beach is mostly known for surfing, eco-friendly lounges and LGBTQ scene during the summer. The beach is one of the locations for the ASP World Tour of the
Association of Surfing Professionals
The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The World Surf League was originally known as the International Professional ...
, which classifies 50 competitors, among professionals and amateurs. The state of Santa Caterina is the only location in South America for this
surfing
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
event.
Santa Catarina Art Museum
The Museu de Arte de Santa Catarina (MASC), was created in 1949 as Museu de Arte Moderna de Florianópolis (MAMF), and, since then, is the official institution for fine arts
In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily f ...
is located in the city.
Joaquina Beach (''Praia da Joaquina'')
Became well-known in the 1970s, when
surfers from around the world discovered its waves. Joaquina Beach is accessible from the Lagoon of Conceição. Many surf cups began to emerge, and great Catarinense surfing personalities. It is one of the beaches that offers the best tourist facilities, receiving a large number of tourists from around Brazil and the world on the warm days in spring and summer. The rock complex situated to the left of the beach, the night lighting and the public showers are some of the trademarks at Joaquina. There is a big paid parking lot, toilets, tourist coach parking lot, lifeguards, police station, handicraft shop, bars, restaurant and hotels. Sand boards can be rented on the spot.
Barra da Lagoa
Barra da Lagoa is a quaint fisherman's village. The physical characteristics of the beach makes it an ideal place to learn to surf. It is a cove on the Eastern part of the island and stretches into Moçambique beach for . It is in a natural setting as there are no huge hotels on the beach and the Southern headquarters of
Projeto TAMAR (Save the
Turtles) is located here. Penguins swim into the canal and near the beach of Barra da Lagoa during the colder winter months of June, July and August. The canal at Barra da Lagoa connects the
Lagoa da Conceição with the open sea. It is not uncommon to see fishermen during the night tossing their nets in the lagoa to catch shrimp they sell to the fresh fish restaurants in this
community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, villag ...
.
Ingleses Beach (''Praia dos Ingleses'')
Even though it is a beach preferred by tourists, Ingleses still keeps to the traditions of the
Azorian
Project Azorian (also called "Jennifer" by the press after its Top Secret Security Compartment) was a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) project to recover the sunken Soviet submarine ''K-129'' from the Pacific Ocean floor in 1974, using th ...
colonizers. In the
summer
Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, the earliest sunrise and latest sunset occurs, daylight hours are longest and dark hours are shortest, wit ...
, it is one of the top beach destinations of Argentine tourists, second only to Canasveiras. In the
winter, mullet fishing, religious celebrations and regional festivities are demonstrations of the local culture. The dunes separating the Ingleses Beach (English Beach) from the Santinho Beach are the main
natural attractions. The practice of
sandboarding is quite common there, with vendors renting sand boards by the dunes. Those looking for a different outing can go on a trek of over the dunes.
Armação Beach (''Praia da Armação'')
The Sant'Anna Church, built by the Armação fishing company, is part of the beach's history. It was from there that whale harpooners and crewmen confessed and attended the mass before going fishing. Next, the priest would go down to the
beach to bless the boats that would sail out to sea. Today, the boats leave there for Ilha do Campeche, one of the most visited
islands around Florianópolis. It is also in Armação that one finds one of the most important archaeological sites of the State of Santa Catarina. In the winter of 2010 a significant portion of the beach disappeared due to erosion. With financial aid from the Brazilian federal government, tons of large rocks were dumped on the beach to prevent houses from destruction.
Campeche Beach (''Praia do Campeche'')
With of white sands and a turbulent waters, Campeche is considered the Jeffreys Bay of the Santa Catarina Island for the quality of its waves. For those who are not interested in surfing, the beach offers other attractions. At
night, Campeche is also an attraction. The huge reflector illuminates part of the large sand strip in front of the bars. The
illumination favours the
fishermen with the production in this area.
Santinho Beach (''
Praia do Santinho'') is mainly sought by tourists who look for nature, and the location's tranquility. Surfers are the main visitors and consider Santinho to be the best beach in the North of the Santa Catarina Island. It is in the left hand corner, where bathers do not venture, that surfers practice their sport, sharing the space with fishermen. away from the centre of Florianópolis, another attraction of this beach are the primitive inscriptions made by hunters, fishermen and collectors inhabiting the Island five thousand years ago. The name Santinho (little saint) comes from a human figure engraved (a
petroglyph
A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...
) on an isolated block of rock, the ''Costão do Santinho''.
Other attractions
Outdoor sports, including
diving,
hang gliding,
rowing,
paragliding, and
mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...
, as well as surfing, are common on the island.
The island is connected to the Continent by three bridges. The
Hercílio Luz Bridge that was built in 1926, this bridge is 11 years older than
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, California—the northern tip of the San Francisco Pen ...
, but is now closed to traffic; it is a symbol of the island and often appears on postcard images. The Colombo Sales Bridge and Pedro Ivo Bridge are the ones open to traffic.
Santo Amaro da Imperatriz was the first thermal water facility in Brazil. Hotels with
thermal bath facilities are located in the district of Caldas da Imperatriz and in the city of Águas Mornas. The Fonte Caldas da Imperatriz city baths are an additional source of thermal waters, which can reach the temperature of , where there are immersion baths and hydromassage. It is located on the Estrada Geral Highway, km 4, Caldas da Imperatriz district.
Areas of the city
The centre of Florianópolis, with its alleys, rows of typical
house
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
s,
churches and
museums, includes many examples of colonial
architecture
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
. Among these are the Palacio
Cruz e Sousa, formerly the Governor's residence, now restored to house the
Santa Catarina Museum, renamed in honour of
João da Cruz e Sousa
João da Cruz e Sousa (24 November 1861 – 19 March 1898), also referred to simply as Cruz e Sousa, was a Brazilian poet and journalist, famous for being one of the first Brazilian Symbolist poets. A descendant of African slaves, he has receiv ...
, homegrown poet, journalist and founder of Brazil's
Symbolist movement
Symbolism was a late 19th-century art movement of French and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts seeking to represent absolute truths symbolically through language and metaphorical images, mainly as a reaction against naturalism and realis ...
; the Mercado Público de Florianópolis (Public Market since 1898), a colourful nexus of food vendors and local
handicrafts in the shade of hundred-year-old fig trees. Close to the centre is the house where
Victor Meirelles was born, one of the authors who devised the first Catholic mass spoken in Brazil. The building is registered by the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage and houses the Victor Meirelles Museum.
Roughly speaking, the
island can be divided in a northern and a southern region: the north is most visited by
tourists and consequently, it bustles with the best services and visitor infrastructure. In some quarters notice a strong influence in the population architecture and customs. Lifelong residents of Florianópolis, especially the older generation, retain the heritage left by
immigrants from
Portuguese islands from
Azores, in the way they speak, in their artistry and craftwork and in a busy calendar of festivals. The south of the island is less busy but nonetheless preserves the intensely
Azorean
)
, motto=
( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace")
, anthem=( en, "Anthem of the Azores")
, image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg
, map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union
, map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...
customs that arrived in Santa Catalina throughout the 18th century.
The
Carijós Ecological Station was established by decree of 20 July 1987, covering an area of in the municipality. It preserves a significant area of mangroves on the Ilha de Santa Catarina.
The
Pirajubaé Marine Extractive Reserve in the south bay of the Ilha de Santa Catarina protects people engaged in traditional harvesting of marine resources, mainly shellfish, from the sandbanks of the bay.
Transportation
International airport
Florianópolis is served by
Hercílio Luz International Airport for both domestic and international flights.
It is one of the leading airports in Brazil for
charter flights, especially during the summer months and from destinations such as
Santiago,
Montevideo
Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
,
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the Capital city, capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata ...
and Córdoba, Argentina, Córdoba, besides domestic routes. The traffic has grown significantly at the airport and therefore the city plans to upgrade and expand the airport so that 2.7 million passengers can be accommodated annually.
The architectural design of the expansion was chosen by a public competition held by Infraero in partnership with the Brazilian Architects Institute (IAB).
Among the over 150 original entries, the proposal of São Paulo architect Mário Bizelli was chosen. Normally the projects for expansion and modernization of the 66 airports administered by Infraero are done by public tender based on the needs, criteria and conditions presented by the company's engineering area.
The privatization of Hercílio Luz International Airport resulted in the inauguration of the new passenger terminal in October 2019, which replaced the previous terminal from the 1970s, which was deactivated. As a result, the airport capacity grew from 1 million passengers to 3.5 million passengers a year, in the new and modern passenger terminal.
Air Force Base
Florianópolis Air Force Base, Florianópolis Air Force Base - BAFL, a base of the Brazilian Air Force, is located in Florianópolis. The Air Base also hosts the Florianópolis Airspace Control Detachment and the Florianópolis Health Squadron. The Florianópolis Air Space Control Detachment is responsible for controlling the aircraft that cross, arrive or leave the capital of the state of Santa Catarina, as well as for the production and dissemination of meteorological and aeronautical information, using a wide range of equipment. detection and communications, in addition to specialized and qualified personnel. The Florianópolis Health Squadron has the mission of providing health care with excellence, carrying out preventive, assistance, forensic actions and supporting the operational activities carried out at the Florianópolis Air Force Garrison.
Highways
Florianópolis is connected to the main cities of
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
:
*From the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: BR-116/ BR-376/ BR-101/ BR-282;
*From Curitiba: BR-376/ BR-101/ BR-282;
*From Porto Alegre: BR-290/ BR-101/ BR-282.
Bus terminal (connecting to other cities)
Rita Maria is the city's main Bus station, bus terminal, located by the Pedro Ivo Campos Bridge, on the island, serving ten thousand people daily, which can reach up to fifteen thousand during the summer season. The bus terminal connects Florianópolis to most cities, towns and villages of Santa Catarina, and to the main cities in the South, Southeast and Central-West regions of Brazil. As an international bus terminal, residents and tourists alike use Rita Maria also to reach Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.
Bus terminal (within the city)
Numerous bus terminals link the neighborhoods of Florianópolis.
*TICAN (Canasvieras) serves the northern beach towns on the island
*TISAN (Santo Antônio de Lisboa) serves the northwestern part of the island
*TICEN (Centro) is in the downtown area and has the most bus traffic. It serves all areas of the island and the mainland
*TITRI (Trindade) is a connector in the northern area around downtown serving the west coast of the island
*TILAG (Lagoa) is a terminal that connects users to the eastern beach areas and the district of
Lagoa da Conceição
*TIRIO (Rio Tavares) connects users to the southern area of the island
Cycleway
Pedala Floripa project is a university pro bicycle program developed by CICLOBRASIL group in the State University of Santa Catarina. The project aims to provide bicycle infra-structure projects and promote bicycle use for leisure and transport in the city.
Distances
*Brasília: ;
*
Rio de Janeiro: ;
*
São Paulo: ;
*
Porto Alegre: ;
*
Curitiba
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. The city's population was 1,948,626 , making it the eighth most populous city in Brazil and the largest in Brazil's South Region. The Curitiba Metropolitan area c ...
: .
*
Montevideo
Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
: ;
*Asunción: ;
*
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the Capital city, capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata ...
:
Neighborhoods
There are more than 40 neighborhoods in Florianópolis:
Sports
There are two professional association football, football teams in the city. The derby between them is known as "O Clássico da Capital" ("''The Capital's Derby''"), or simply "O Clássico" (The Derby).
Avaí FC – blue and white. It is also known as Leão da Ilha ("Lion of the Island"). Its stadium is the Aderbal Ramos da Silva, popularly known as Ressacada, located in the Carianos neighborhood, in the southern part of the island. Avaí plays in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Brazil's national first division and holds 18 State Championship titles.
Figueirense Futebol Clube, Figueirense FC – black and white. Its nickname is ''Figueira'' and it is also known as ''O Furacão do Estreito''. Its stadium is the Estádio Orlando Scarpelli, Orlando Scarpelli, located in the Estreito neighborhood, in the continental part of the city. Figueirense plays in Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, the Brazilian national third division. The team has won Santa Catarina State Championship 18 times.
Florianópolis, is the home of Desterro Rugby Clube. Desterro has male and female rugby teams competing in the Brasil Super 10 (Men's 15s) competition and the Super 7s (women's 7s).
Florianópolis, since the beginning of the 20th century has a tradition in
rowing. By the middle of that century the sport was growing in Brazil and the city had a big influence on it. But, with the decline of the sport in the country by the late 1980s, the investment slowed and by today is almost none. But is still served with three schools, Riachuelo Remo, Martinelli Remo and Aldo Luz Remo, with all three being placed between Hercilio Luz bridge, Hercílio Luz Bridge, Colombo Salles Bridge and Pedro Ivo Campos Bridge. Since the beginning of 2008 the sport is watching a rapid growing in the number of rowers, even with people flocking from other cities to experience Floripa's rowing.
Florianópolis is the hometown of tennis player Gustavo Kuerten. There are various opportunities to practice yoga in Florianopolis with studios that host international yoga retreats and provide teacher-training courses. Sandboarding is possible in the sand dunes near Joaquina beach. Kitesurfing and Windsurfing are possible in the Lagoa da Conceição lagoon.
The island is generally considered to be blessed with the best and most consistent Surfing waves in Brazil, and in early November of each year hosts what is
South America's only
Association of Surfing Professionals
The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The World Surf League was originally known as the International Professional ...
World Championship Tour professional surfing competition. Brazil has played host to many an ASP tour event over the past 30 years. Former contest sites include
Rio de Janeiro, Barra de Tijuca and Saquarema, but the past four years have seen the tour set up shop in Florianópolis.
Falling towards the end of the tour, the past few years have seen several ASP world champions crowned in Brazil. In 2004 it was Andy Irons, and in 2005 it was Kelly Slater (who had his 2006 ASP World Title already stitched up by Brazil).
Notable people
*
Victor Meirelles, painter
*João da Cruz e Sousa, Cruz e Sousa, symbolist poet
*Gustavo Kuerten or Guga, tennis player
*Pedro Barros (skateboarder), Pedro Barros, skateboarder
*Fernando Scherer or Xuxa, swimmer
*Laion Ferreira Gomes, footballer
*Álvaro Sousa, composer, music teacher
Twin towns – sister cities
Florianópolis is Sister city, twinned with:
* Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
* Asunción, Paraguay
* Constitución, Chile, Constitución, Chile
* Córdoba, Argentina, Córdoba, Argentina
* Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay, Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay
* Havana, Cuba
* Luján, Buenos Aires, Luján, Argentina
* Ponta Delgada, Portugal
* Praia da Vitória, Portugal
* Presidente Franco District, Presidente Franco, Paraguay
* Roanoke, Virginia, Roanoke, United States
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Florianopolis
Florianópolis,
Populated places established in 1726
1726 establishments in Brazil
Municipalities in Santa Catarina (state)