Florianopolis, the capital of the State of Santa Catarina, is located on the west coast of the Ilha (island) de Santa Catarina and is linked to the mainland by the longest suspension bridge in Brazil, the Hercilio Luz Bridge. Article and graphic sourced with thanks from Darkwing/Florianapolis The natural beauties of Florianópolis attract thousands of visitors every year. Mainly in the summer, Brazilian and South American tourists – such as Argentineans, Uruguayans and Chileans – seek the diversity of the coast. In the island can be found, side by side, the most varied types of beaches – the long ones, with large sand strip; the small ones, encrusted in backwaters; those with strong waves; and the ones of calm sea, looking like lagoons; urbanized ones full of bathers; and deserted ones, with access by trail only. It is the paradise for surf, windsurf, sailing and fishing lovers.

The Northern and Central regions of Florianópolis are the mostly sought after by tourists and offer a complete infrastructure of services, resorts, hotels and lodges. In the South, some districts also keep the aspect of countryside villages, and in them one can notice, in their way of speaking, in their handicraft activities, and folkloric feasts – the heritage left by their ancestors from the Portuguese archipelago of Ações, as of the 18th century. On the other side, the city gained a cosmopolitan air with the arrival of Brazilians from other States and foreigners who chose to live there. The island, which in the beginning of colonization, was an important center for whale hunting, is today the technological pole of the IT industry. Tourist Capital, Florianópolis is currently inhabited by about 300 thousand people, a number that triples every summer. Sourced with thanks from Brazil Tour

Wikipedia articles for Florianopolis

• Florianópolis
• São José, Santa Catarina
• Estádio Orlando Scarpelli
• São José, Santa Catarina