Florianópolis - a Brazilian paradise

When people think of tourism in Brazil, they often immediately think of Rio de Janeiro, Recife, or Fortaleza. But the vast country of Brazil has much more to offer. The city of Florianópolis (also known as Floripa), the capital of Santa Catarina state, is gradually becoming one of the hottest tourist destinations in Brazil.

Natural paradise

Only a small portion of Floripa's area (1,210 km²) lies on the mainland; the city is mostly situated on an island covering 424.4 km². The island, named Santa Catarina, is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. It boasts over 100 beaches of varying sizes, not to mention other attractions such as lakes, lagoons, waterfalls, mountains, and forests.

An aerial view of Florianópolis.

Floripa has a population of just over 500,000, but during the peak summer season, more than 1 million tourists flock to the city. However, to avoid the intense summer heat, savvy travelers can choose to visit Floripa during the rainy season, from December to March of the following year.

The beaches of Jurerê, Daniela, Canasvieiras, Brava, and Ingleses in the north of the island boast long stretches of white sand and almost year-round sunshine, making them ideal for swimming, sunbathing, jogging, and more. In contrast, the beaches in the southwest, such as Joaquina, Mole, Moçambique, Campeche, Armação, and Morro das Pedras, are the "battlegrounds" for beach sports . Surfers and paragliders highly appreciate the wave and wind quality at these beaches. Visitors should also not miss the opportunity to scuba dive and explore the coral reef ecosystem at these beaches.

At the southernmost tip of Santa Catarina Island are some of the most secluded and pristine beaches, such as Lagoinha do Leste and Naufragados. Visitors who enjoy hiking and exploring nature often choose to trek through the jungle to reach these beaches. The most popular route is the Trilha da Costa da Lagoa tour. This trail connects several fishing villages and passes through some incredibly picturesque forests and waterfalls, especially the Lagoa da Conceição lagoon. Even during Brazil's Portuguese colonial era, Europeans recognized the beauty of Lagoa da Conceição and built numerous holiday villas along its shores.

Lagoa da Conceição also boasts two nature reserves. To the north is Rio Vermelho Park, and to the south is Dunas da Lagoa da Conceição Park. Both parks are renowned for their high biodiversity. For example, Rio Vermelho Park is home to over 169 plant species, 150 insect species, and 37 bird species coexisting in an area of ​​1532 hectares. Visitors to these two nature parks often choose to explore the wetlands and brackish forests by boat.

Interesting city

The inner city area of ​​Florianópolis has many interesting destinations awaiting visitors. The "heart" of the city is Praça XV, home to some of the most famous landmarks, such as the Metropolitana de Florianópolis cathedral. This cathedral was inaugurated in 1773 and has undergone several renovations. Although there are many larger churches in Brazil, anyone visiting the Metropolitana must look up at its two striking bell towers. The cathedral is also famous for its magnificent pipe organ and the collection of wooden sculptures by the sculptor Ferdinand Demetz (1902-1942).

Also located next to Praça XV is the Palácio Cruz e Sousa Museum. This building was originally a villa for the governor of Santa Catarina state, built during the reign of Governor José da Silva Paes (1679-1760). Many great figures in Brazilian history visited and stayed here, including two emperors, Pedro I (1798-1834) and Pedro II (1825-1891). Later, the building was renovated into a museum and named after the poet João da Cruz e Sousa (1861-1898), a native of Santa Catarina. Visitors to the Cruz e Sousa Museum have the opportunity to admire a vast collection about Santa Catarina, with artifacts ranging from prehistoric times to the modern era.

Santa Catarina's cuisine is heavily influenced by migrants from the Azores region of Portugal. The local dishes visitors can find in Florianópolis are a blend of western Portuguese cooking methods and locally produced seafood and agricultural products. Florianópolis is particularly famous for its mullet dishes. During mullet migration season, the city is filled with the aroma of grilled fish. Grilled fish stalls are everywhere, and diners sit on the sidewalks enjoying skewers of fish with a few glasses of cold beer.

The Florianópolis Carnival isn't as grand as the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, but it has recently grown significantly in both scale and quality. Today, not only local dance troupes but also groups from across Brazil participate in the Florianópolis Carnival parade. The parade also features a samba dance competition, with people setting up parties on every street corner to watch the competition. The carnival also includes many other events, both large and small, among which the Florianópolis Gay Carnival is attracting considerable attention. The Florianópolis Gay Carnival is dedicated to the LGBT community and includes a series of events such as concerts, parades, and beauty pageants.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/florianopolis-thien-duong-brazil-701241.html