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The island of Santa Catarina, has to be one of the places that I will remember for
all times, a tranquil place that I would love to make my home.
There are a great many excellent hotels to choose from all of which will
make your visit a truly memorable experience.
With its beautiful beaches and friendly people this is the place to visit if you
require a peaceful getaway.
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. Spaniards
first settled the city 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 centre. 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, if you visit here I would definitely
recommend a meal at 'El Gran Comilon' where Paella is a specialty!
I visited this wonderful place for the first time in October 2000 and my initial
impression was of a very relaxed way of life. How different it is to the busy
lifestyle of Rio. Local laws there prohibit the building of factories and large
industrial developments.
The choice of beaches is a difficult one (there are so many, 42 I believe), although my
favourite would have to be Praia Mole, with its expanse of golden sand it is a
perfect place to spend a day relaxing with friends.
As with most other beaches
in Brazil, good quality food is never far away, freshly prepared snacks
and
meals are readily available from a choice of outlets at the top of the beach.
Up north is where the most famous resorts are located, Canavieiras,
Ingleses and Jurere. To the south, there are beaches such as Armacao, Campeche,
and Pantano do Sul these are the beaches of the laocal fishing villages.
For more adventurous types, there are wild beaches, Lagoinha do Leste and
Naufragados acessible only by following steep trails around 5 miles long.
Other beaches such as Santo Antonio de Lisboa and Ribeirao da Ilha, preserve
architecture from Acores, an heritage from the Acorian immigrants from 1748.
Its natural beauty and quality of life attract people from major urban centres
such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The most visited tourist attractions in downtown are Mercado Publico where the
famous Box 32 is located and Alfandega where you will find handcrafted articles.
The local artisans produce articles for the kitchen and decorative objects
representing local tradition, religious events and its people. The typical food
is seafood and fish, although the variety of food is truly cosmopolitan.
Praia Mole, a beach I know so well, I enjoyed many wonderful days there,
and
on one occasion was very nearly arrested (for swimming in front of a red flag).
It's not a wise thing to argue with the Brazilian military police!
A picture I took as my flight passed over the Santa
Catarina coastline, this picture was taken as I began my journey
home in October 2000.
A big thanks to British Airways & Varig for making all my flights
enjoyable.
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