Phoenix Brazil DMC

Florianópolis is at an island that receives the same state name of which is capital: Santa Catarina. Santa Catarina. It occupies a land portion, besides near the coast, the visitor never forgets he is in a special place. It is surrounded by a blue sea, which bathes many wonderful beaches. The major part of its area is part of environmental reserves. Although progress has modernized the city, it preserves many cultural heritages.
The natural beauties of the island attract many people, not only in Brazil, but also in neighbor countries, especially Argentines, Uruguayan, Paraguayan and Chilean tourists who seek its beaches on summer. There are beaches of different formats: little bays or with long strip of land; with powerful or calm waves such as lakes; crowded of bathers which agitate them or almost deserts; urbanized or hidden ones and with access only by trails. Divers, as well fishermen and surfing, windsurfing and sailing follower, who found good places for practicing their sports.
Florianópolis also satisfies people who appreciate historical places. The forts from XVIII century, risen up to protect the island against foreign invaders can be visited and proportionate good strolls. The city center has reconstructed ancient buildings, such as Palácio Cruz (Cruz Palace) and Souza with historical museum, the building where it was Alfândega (Customhouse) and Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market).
Roughly saying, the island can be divided in two sectors: in the north is the most visited side by tourists and because of that, the busiest and with the best services infrastructure. In some quarters notice a strong influence in the population architecture and customs. The most ancient livers of Florianópolis still have in the way they speak, in the craftwork activities and in the popular parties, the heritage left by immigrants from Portuguese islands from Azores. The south of the island preserved intensely Azorean customs that arrived there from the XVIII century.
The cookery is also based on seafoods - fishes, shrimps, mussels that are served in simple restaurants near the sea or in well-equipped establishments. Many Brazilian of other states and foreigners that arrived to live in the island, brought sophistication and a cosmopolitan atmosphere to Florianópolis. The city also offers resorts and good hotels.

The hotels are concentrate mainly in the center and in the beaches in the north of the island. There are also options of little inns and a resort. Florianópolis has a good communications and services structure. It offers numerous receptive tourism agencies, car rental agencies and branches from the main banks. It has modern equipments to the organization of events.

Florianópolis is 1700 km far from Brasilia, 700 km from São Paulo and 1100 km from Rio de Janeiro. Its airport has domestic flights. The road terminal receives buses from many capitals and Brazilian cities and from Mercosul countries (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay).

Beaches
There are beaches to all preferences. Canasvieiras, Cachoeira do Bom Jesus, Jurerê e Ingleses ones are urbanized and concentrate many tourists. People who prefer quieter places should go to Mozambique, the most extent beach of the island, and Campeche. If you prefer adventuring in forest trails and getting to places almost deserts, you can go to Naufragados and Lagoinha do Leste ones. Pântano do Sul is located near a fishermen' settlement and Santo Antônio de Lisboa which has a nice thorps with ancient buildings. Surfers will find excellent waves in many beaches, such as Joaquina, Mole, Matadeiro and Brava. The calmer water from Cachoeira do Bom Jesus (Bom Jesus Waterfalls) and Ponta das Canas is ideal for nautical sports.
Forts
Because of its strategic localization, Portuguese built a defense system of Ilha de Santa Catarina (Santa Catarina Island) during the XVIII century, to avoid Spanishs from taking the territory. However, in 1777, on a unique try, Spanish invaded the island and the forts couldn’t detain them. Most of the fortresses is tumbled by the Historical Patrimony and was restored. Sailings strolls take to the Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim and Santo Antônio de Ratones forts, located in little islands. On earth, you can visit São José da Ponta Grossa, Santana, where is the Museu de Armas (Museum of Arms) and Marechal Moura de Naufragados, with access by trail.
Strolls
Schooners take the tourists to visit the forts (see below) and to Costa da Lagoa (Lake's Coast), a fishermen's thorp which preserves customs of its Azorean ancestors intensely. On Ilha do Campeche (Campeche Island) there are several rupestrian inscriptions on archaeological places. Nearby Lagoa da Conceição (Conceição's Lake), there are also forest trails to thorps and sugar plantation ruins of XVII century.
Lagoa da Conceição (Conceição's Lake)
It's one of the most beautiful and exciting places of Florianópolis. In the enormous lake of blue waters, surrounded by some white sand dunes, it's possible to practice windsurfing, kayak, sailing and jet ski. Craftswomen, who manages bobbin laces, make wonderful lace works, and sell their products in the little stores of the region. In the streets around, there are restaurants, bars, dancing clubs and cafés that make Lagoa's nightlife the most excited of the city.
Gastronomy
Seafood dishes are the Florianópolis specialty. The oysters, which are cultivated in the south of the island, in the turned side of the continent, can be consumed very fresh, soon after being extracted from the sea. The mullet, which is fished between May and June, is prepared to "escalada" way. It is salted, dry and after served grilled. It's one of the most typical dishes of the region.