Florianópolis (also known by its nickname Floripa) is the capital city of Santa Catarina State in southern Brazil. It is composed of one main island, the Island of Santa Catarina, one continental part and the surrounding small islands.
Florianópolis is one of the three Brazilian states capitals on an island. It is surrounded by smaller islands with forts, which protected ships in the 17th century. Most of the population lives on the island's northern half. The southern half is more isolated and less developed. Although originally settled by the Portuguese, the city has a strong German and Italian influence, like the rest of the state. Florianópolis is a popular destination for South American tourists, because of its location and white sand beaches.
Florianópolis is mostly composed of Brazilians of European descent. Its colonization started in the mid-18th century, mostly with the arrival of Portuguese colonists from the Azores Islands. Florianópolis was composed mainly of Azoreans, Germans and Italians.
Florianópolis has its economy consolidated basically in the activities of the commerce, installment of public service, industry of transformation and tourism. Lately, the clothing industry and Internet Technology are also becoming sectors of exceptional development. Civil construction is also another important economic activity of the city, with highlight for the beaches of the north region of the island (Jurerê, Jurerê Internacional, Canasvieiras and Ingleses).
Tourism is one of the staples of Florianópolis' economy. In Florianópolis the natural treasures are truly exceptional and include beautiful lagoons, stunning beaches, rolling mountains lush with Atlantic rainforest, soft white dunes, and an array of small offshore islands, as well as a wealth of landscapes, aromas and colors. The island offers opportunities for many types of tourism, from traditional summer relaxation holidays, to surfing, hiking, whale watching and many other of ecotourism options.
The island truly has a bit of something for everyone, from authentic and rustic fishing villages, to surfer's paradises surrounded by charming small towns (which remind many people of parts of San Diego or Santa Barbara in California), to high-end Brazilian summer getaways (reminiscent of South Beach in Miami or San Tropei in France), as well as pristine and untouched nature preserves, just minutes from modern shopping malls and cinema complexes. Its numerous white and clean sand bottom beaches, some and wild, others vibrant and agitated, continue to draw visitors from around the world in addition to the sun-worshipping local population.
(Courtesy of Wikipedia)
