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. The city was first setlled by Spaniards in 1542, but by 1675 the Portuguese took control of the island. The captaincy of Santa Catarina was created in 1738 to serve as an outpost in the Portuguese-Spanish territorial wars. During the 19th century a considerable immigration of non-Portuguese peoples occurred. Germans arrived as early as 1829 and came in great numbers during the 1850s, settling not only in Florianopolis, but also along the valleys in the mainland. Anita Garibaldi, wife of Giuseppe Garibaldi fought in the Farroupilha Revolution of 1839, an unsuccessful separatist rebellion in the early days of the empire. Later other waves of immigrants from Italy, Poland, and Russia arrived in Santa Catarina to build new lives. Today Florianopolis is a busy commercial center. Industries produce metallurgical and electrical communications equipment, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and perfume. The area around Lagoa has some of the best seafood restaurants that I have ever seen.

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Gustavo Kuerten "Guga" - Winner of the French Open

Florianopolis

Tourist Resources

• Floripa.Com
• Basic Tourist Information from UFSC
• Santur Official Tourism Information
• View the Attractions of the Beautiful Island
• Photos
• The Beaches of Florianopolis by Sergio Trouilet
• Photos from Various Parts of SC

Additional Information

• Prefeitura de Florianopolis Municipal Government - Excellent Source of Information
• Municipal Chambers
• TELESC - Serviço de Informações de Florianópolis
  

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The State of Santa Catarina Area : 95,985 sq.km. Population : 4,500,000 Capital : Florianopolis