Florianopolis

The name Florianópolis is a tribute to Marshal Floriano Peixoto, the second President (1891–1894) of the Republic of the United States of Brazil and from Greek term polis, meaning "city". Until 1893, the city was called Nossa Senhora do Desterro (Portuguese: [ˈnɔsɐ siˈɲɔɾɐ du desˈteʁu] or [dʒisˈteʁu]; lit. 'Our Lady of Banishment') or simply Desterro.

Carijós Indians, a Tupi people, 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, meaning "mountain along the channel." Around 1514, the Portuguese landed and gave the area the name Ilha dos Patos (Island of the Ducks), 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 consecrated to Nossa Senhora do Desterro. At this time, a villa began to take form, slowly becoming a colonial settlement. …

Florianópolis lies within the Atlantic Forest, which 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 50–100 kilometers (31–62 miles) along the coast, which covers about 20 percent of the region. This forest extends as far as 500–600 kilometers (310–370 miles) 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 17,104-hectare (42,260-acre) offshore Marinha do Arvoredo Biological Reserve, a fully protected conservation unit established in 1990. …

According to 2002 Sefaz statistics, agricultural activities represented 0.05%, manufacturing represented 3.41% and the commerce and service sector 96.54%. Tourism is one of the staples of Florianópolis's 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. …

Florianópolis is one of the most visited places in Brazil, as it is an island with 42 beaches, lagoons, and waterfalls. Conceição Lagoon (Lagoa da Conceição) is the largest lagoon on the Santa Catarina Island and one of the most visited areas of the island by foreign travelers and backpackers. The adjacent district of the same name 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 it 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). …

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, Buenos Aires and 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. …