Imagine a vibrant city, full of shops, restaurants, museums, nightlife and culture. Add to it over forty flawless beaches, several lakes and lagoons, all ideal for swimming, surfing and sunbathing and you will have a good picture of the beautiful Brazilian city of Florianopolis.

It is little wonder that the area has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It has caught on with both the Brazilian population as well as the global tourist population. The area is enjoying a real estate boom as residents of the major cities purchase homes in Florianopolis for their vacation use. Yet with all of this attention and energy, the local population of roughly four hundred thousand people has been able to maintain the clean, pristine environment and the natural beauty of the area as well as the friendly character of the many old neighborhoods.

A visitor to the town will soon discover the unique layout made by the geography of the area – the city rests on mainland Brazil and on Santa Catarina Island. This is the reason the city has become the official capital of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina itself.

Currently the most popular areas of the city are the resort locations, with their hotels, shopping, and dining and water activities. These Island areas are reached by three connecting bridges, including the famous Hercilio Luz Bridge which is considered a picture postcard or iconic image of the city.

Many of the popular attractions of the area are related to the beautiful natural scenery such as the Lagoa da Conceição a beautiful and large lake in the center of Santa Catarina Island, the Velha Figueira an ancient tree - more than one hundred years old and which is sung about in the official song of Florianopolis, and of course its more than forty beautiful beaches.

In addition to all of the scenery however is a large amount of cultural history, architecture and museums, including the Catedral Metropolitana considered to be the most beautiful building in the city, the Teatro Alvara de Carhalho, which is considered a perfect specimen of late nineteenth century local architecture, and several forts dating from the 1700s including the Fortaleza Santana and the Fortaleza Sao Jose da Ponta Grossa from 1739.