Florianópolis is the capital city of Santa Catarina State in southern Brazil. It is an island city with a population of 369.102 (2003/IBGE).
It is surrounded by smaller islands with forts which protected ships in the 17th century. Most of the population lives in its northern half. The southern half is more isolated and less developed. Though originally settled by Portuguese (from the Islands of Açores), like the rest of Brazil, the city has a heavy German and Italian influence. Florianópolis is a popular destination for South American tourists, because of its location and white sand beaches.
History
Populated by the "manezinhos", people that came from the azorian islands. They are known by their small stature, speedy talking and naivité. Furthermore, they claim a fake humility but, in reality, they think they are the smarter people in the world (provide the world doesn´t go further from their homes). They are too very suspicious and, sometimes, even xenophobic and some think and express it by saying that the strangers came to destroy their beautifull and provician island, especially the "gauchos" that come from Rio Grande do Sul State, south from Florianopolis. Florianopolis is a small town which is starting to say goodbye to their nostalgic and old-fashioned provincianism. But, as things do not die all at the same time, we continue to see some "manezinhos" moaning because of the people from outside.
Beaches
There are about 42 well known beaches at Florianópolis island, but more than 100 in all. The most well-known beaches are:
Jurerê - Most developed and organizated; biggest houses.
Florianopolis, the capital of the State of Santa Catarina, is located on the west coast of the Ilha (island) de Santa Catarina and is linked to the mainland by the longest suspension bridge in Brazil, the Hercilio Luz Bridge.
The city was first setlled by Spaniards in 1542, but by 1675 the Portuguese took control of the island.
Germans arrived as early as 1829 and came in great numbers during the 1850s, settling not only in Florianopolis, but also along the valleys in the mainland.
Under the natural beauty and climate of the Florianopolis magical island, just an hour flight away from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo City, Ironman Brazil under organization by Latin Sports since 2001, had an exponential growth from about 250 competitors in 2000 to almost 800 in 2003.
Florianopolis is an island with 42 beaches, and an ideal race day climate.
The location is good for triathletes who like to mix their Ironman racing with traditional vacation activities like mountain biking, snorkeling, and hiking as well as the more adventurous recreations like windsurfing, parachuting, and even "sandboarding" on the dunes of Joaquina Beach..
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