Monthly Newsletter - August 2008

Named “the best place to live in Brazil” by the Brazilian publication VEJA, Florianópolis is a lovely seaside city that will enchant and beckon you to explore its forests, shores and city streets. Whether you are looking for endless outdoor adventures, relaxation on white sand beaches, or discovering colonial architecture and history, Florianópolis has all that and more.

The capital of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis (Floripa) sits on the eastern edge of Ilha de Santa Catarina, and boasts over 40 white sand beaches. Not only a major destination for surfers, Floripa is also the cultural hub of the south where colonial heritage blends with modernity creating an attractive and quickly growing city. Heavy industry is banned and much of the island is an ecological reserve where lagoons and beaches have remained pristine and forests dense with vegetation.

A colonial heritage fused with modern architecture to make Floripa a city both old and new. At the high end of the city square sits the Metropolitan Cathedral, constructed at the same site of the city’s first chapel. A few blocks away is the Igreja de NS do Rosário, Floripa’s best preserved colonial church. For a glimpse of the past, visit the Museu Histórico de Santa Catarina. Housed in the former governor’s palace, a building with lavish furnishings and elaborate ceilings, the museum has a collection of indigenous and colonial artifacts. Up to the 1960’s, Floripa was an important port due to its strategic geography. Today you can still see the 19th-century port, the Alfândega, and the public market restored with shops, cafes and arts and crafts stalls just southwest of the main square. The look-out point at Morro da Cruz offers a view of the city while the waters off the northern coast harbors endangered mangroves.

The island city strikes a balance between pleasant natural settings and modern conveniences. For those seeking an authentic experience, there are rustic fishing villages and splendid deserted beaches. You will find the whole gamut of outdoor activities: from paragliding over tropical forests to snorkeling and diving in clear blue waters. If you are feeling adventurous, you can try your skills at sandboarding, similar to snowboarding but done on sand dunes. Numerous natural reserves and parks offer ample opportunities for hiking and discovering hidden caves and waterfalls. After all the excitement and adventure, you can relax and refuel at Floripa’s charming restaurants and cafes sitting under the glimmering Brazilian sun. If reading about this island getaway has piqued your desire to see it for yourself, take a look at our customizable tour to Florianopolis to experience this spectacular city!

by Leah Li

Source:
Footprint: Brazil
Lonely Planet
World66

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter July 2008
• Newsletter June 2008
• Newsletter May 2008
• Newsletter April 2008
• Newsletter February 2008
• Newsletter January 2008