Florianópolis is a southern Brazilian coastal city and Santa Catarina’s capital. Most of the city area is located on the island state, connected to the mainland by two modern bridges and an old one. But only a small part of this locale can truly be called urban since so much of it is made up of beautiful beaches, incredible nature scenes, and a large lagoon.

The Catedral Metropolitana

The Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora do Desterro e Santa Catarina de Alexandria, or The Our Lady of Exile and St Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, is a Catholic church which is used as a principal place of worship for the archdiocese of Florianópolis. It’s been operating since 1908 and is protected by Brazil’s National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute.

Colonisation began in Florianópolis in 1673, Francisco Dias Velho acquired the legal title of these lands in 1679 and started construction then. It was a small building made of limestone and the founder of the city, named Desterro then, was assassinated in it, a sad fact which elevated its status to that of a cathedral.

The Mercado Municipal

The Mercado Municipal, or Municipal Market, is something of a living museum and has a storied past extending back 200+ years.

Originally, sellers in the market operated from out of tents and there was significant debate about where to build a more permanent structure. The location may seem odd at first, with the Customs House adjacent as it is to the Mercado Municipal, but a quarter-mile, or 400 metres, of landfill was placed in front of the area to create space for the market.

The building was finally completed in the early 1930s but it has seen several fires and undergone numerous renovations between then and now. Today it consists of two hallways filled with stalls and a centre court that you can purchase delicious items from to enjoy back at your hotel or hostel room, alone while enjoying a good book or as you play online Blackjack games, or with friends, family, or whatever travelling companions you may find yourself among!

The Hercilio Luz Bridge

The Hercílio Luz Bridge is the oldest link between Florianópolis and the Santa Catarina continent and is the longest suspension bridge in Brazil.

Construction on it began in 1922 and it was finished and then inaugurated in 1926. It is over 800 metres long, with almost 259 metres of viaduct from the island, and has a central span of almost 350 metres, along with 221 metres of viaduct from Santa Catarina.

The Hercilio Luz Bridge is a steel structure and weighs roughly 5 000 tons. Its foundations and pillars used almost 15m³ of concrete, and two towers rise 74 metres from sea level. Its central span is 43 metres high.

The bridge got closed to the public in May 1991 but underwent an expansive restoration before being opened up once more in December 2019.

The State Park Of Serra do Tabuleiro

A special part of this state park shows a mix of endangered and typical Brazilian animals, including the tapir and the capybara. It’s an ideal area for enjoying nature, hiking, and walking.