Brazil – Santa Catarina (Florianopolis, Joinville) April 26-27, 2022
I took the bus from Curitiba to Florianopolis (18:30-22:30, 4 hours) and walked the 1.1 km to my hostel (HI Floripa) in the downtown center.
FLORIANOPOLIS (pop 508,000, metro 1.1 million) is the capital and second largest city (after Joinville) of the state of Santa Catarina, in the South region of Brazil. The city encompasses Santa Catarina Island and surrounding small islands, as well as part of the mainland. The city is known for having the country’s third highest Human Development Index score among all Brazilian cities (0.847).
The economy of Florianópolis is heavily based on information technology, tourism and services. The city has 60 beaches and is a center of surfing activity. Lagoa da Conceição is the most famous area for tourism, recreation, nature and radical sports. The New York Times reported that “Florianopolis is the Party Destination of the Year in 2009.” Newsweek placed Florianópolis in the “Ten most dynamic cities of the world” list in 2006. Veja, a Brazilian publication, named the city as “the best place to live in Brazil.” As a result of this exposure, Florianópolis is growing as a second home destination for many Paulistas, Argentines, North Americans, and Europeans.
Florianópolis is also commonly known by the nicknames Floripa and Ilha da Magia (Magic Island). Most of the population lives on the mainland and on the island’s central and northern parts. The southern half is less inhabited. Many small commercial fishermen populate the island. The fishing boats, the lacemakers, the folklore, the cuisine and the colonial architecture contribute to the growing tourism and attracts resources that compensate for the lack of any large industry. Villages immersed in tradition and history, such as Santo Antônio de Lisboa and Ribeirão da Ilha still resist the advances of modernity.
The Hercílio Luz International Airport serves the city.
I left my pack in the morning and had a walk/Uber about to see as many sites in the city as possible with plans to bus to Porto Allegre in the afternoon/evening.
Palácio Cruz e Sousa (Historical Museum). The palace is a gorgeous with a pink/white trim paintjob. The musuem has history and some natural history with plants. Free
Our Lady of Exile and St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. A lovely church with two great towers and columns outside, the cross at the back, elaborate stained glass, a fresco in front tofhte altar and loverly carved limestone/gilt altars.
Victor Meirelles Museum. He was a painter and this has a small gallery of some of his art – quite lovely. There was a lot of info on the renovation of the building but nothing on his life – for example it was impossible to find out when he lived. Free
Centro Cultural da Marinha. A well-done museum with weapons, art, uniforms, documents, ship models (to recent times) and a huge selection of navigational instruments. Free
Trash Museum. In the NM Bizzarium series, this is a recycling centre with material scavenged from trash and a little bit of everything: cameras, books, stereo equipment, toys, a huge collection of vinyl records, books. Free
Santa Catarina Art Museum. One gallery of art from about 1910 to contemporary art. One nice painting. Free
In the same building was a photograph exhibit of large black and white pictures that were very nice. Free
Museum of Man of Sambaqui. In a Jesuit college, it has a lttle bit of everything: archaeology (stone tools, jewelry, several skeletons, pots), natural history (stuffed animals), rocks, fossils, and religious artifacts,
Ponte Hercílio Luz. A huge cable-stayed road bridge with two large towers on piers.
Santana Fortress. On the water under the Hercillo Luz bridge, this is permanently closed but I saw from above and outside. With white walls, inside are buildings and a park-like setting with trees.
I returned to my hostel, got my pack and walked down to the rodoviaria to get the bus to Porto Allegre (16:30, 6 hours, 159 BR).
Replica of the Statue of Liberty,Barra Velha. In the NM Bizzarium series, about 45 minutes outside of Florianopolis we passed this right on the highway.
sThe Havan is a Brazilian one-stop departmental store, closely associated with American cultural icons. Here in Barra Velhal, it has erected a replica of the Statue of Liberty standing at 37m from head to toe, with an additional 20-meter pedestal. Shoppers to Havan can take an elevator to the top of the Statue of Liberty replica, where they can look out over a highway.
I didn’t see any of the following in Parana East:
FLORIANOPOLIS
Fortaleza de São José da Ponta Grossa
Eli Heil O Mundo Ovo Museum
Ecomuseu do Ribeirao
Joaquina Beach
Praia do Campeche
Tentative WHS: Brazilian Fortresses Ensemble (30/01/2015)
Islands: Santa Catarina
XL: Ilha de Sao Francisco (SC)
Cities of the Americas
BLUMENAU
BRUSQUE
LAGES
TUBARAO
CRICIUMA
JARAGUA do SUL CHAPECO
ITAJAI/CAMBORIU
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Camboriu Cable Cars
Architectural Delights: Camboriu: Millennium Palace
Aquariums: Camboriu: Oceanic Aquarium
Beaches: Balneário Camboriú Beaches
JOINVILLE
Art Museums: Joinville: Museum of Art
House and Biographical Museums: Joinville: Fritz Alt House Museum
Windmills and Wheels: Joinville: Windmill
Villages and Small Towns
Garopaba
Pomerode
Ribeirao da Ilha
São Bento do Sul
São Francisco do Sul
Timbó
Airports
Chapecó (XAP)
Florianopolis (FLN)
Joinville (JOI)
Navegantes (NVT)
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels
Scenic Road – Caminho dos Principes
Scenic Road – Serra do Rio do Rastro (SC-390)
Art Museums: Chapecó: Museu de História Arte de Chapecó
Religious Monuments: Balneário Camboriú: Christ Light (Cristo Luz)
Monuments: Barra Velha: Havan Statue of Liberty
World of Nature
Acarai State Park
Campo Alegre: Campos do Quiriri
São Joaquim NP
Serra do Itajaí NP
Serra do Tabuleiro State Park
Waterfalls: Corupá: Waterfalls
Rivers: Uruguay River
Festivals
Blumenau: Blumenau Beer Festival
Marejada, Itajai
Oktoberfest, Blumenau
Pomerode: Festa Pomerana
São Bento do Sul: Schlachtfest
Theme Parks and Miniatures: Penha: Beto Carrero World
Beaches
Estaleirinho Beach
Guarda do Embaú
Joaquina Beach
Porto Belo: Caixa d’aco
Open-Air Museums: Orleans: Open Air Museum Princesa Isabel
Lighthouses: Laguna: Farol de Santa Marta