Florianopolis History Facts and Timeline

(Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil)

The capital of the Brazilian province of Santa Catarina straddles the mainland and the west coast of the island of the same name, being connected by no less than three individual bridges.

While today it is mainly celebrated for its nearby beaches, the history of Florianopolis is fairly interesting and there are many reminders of years gone by, which have included periods of both colonialism and immigration.

Indians and the Bandeirante

Carijós Indians inhabited the area in and around Florianopolis from 2,000 BC onwards. At this time, this ancient settlement was named Meiembipe, which roughly translates as 'Mountain with Canal'. Portuguese explorers landed here in 1514 and named the island Ilha dos Patos, although just over a decade later, it was renamed, becoming known as Ilha de Santa Catarina. Their settlement was to be known as Nossa Senhora do Desterro, which soon became abbreviated to just Desterro.


It was in the year of 1673 when things really took off here, following the arrival of Francisco Dias Velho, a wealthy pioneer, slave hunter and gold prospector, who arrived here from Sao Paulo with ambitions of founding his own community. He brought with him roughly 100 of his employees and together they colonised the island of Santa Cararina, farming the land.

A chapel was built in Vila do Desterro and a settlement established, marking the origins of modern-day Florianopolis. The present-day Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana) actually resides on a site of this earlier chapel from about this time and is a marker of Florianopolis history. It stands next to the Praca XV de Novembro and off the Rua Arcipreste Paiva, where it is especially celebrated for its ornate detailing, large pipe organ and stained-glass windows. The Portuguese declared it a village in 1714, and just 12 years later, it had grown so much that it was designated a town. The city considers its official date of founding to be 23rd March 1726, and this anniversary is celebrated every year with gusto.

Fortresses were erected around the city and the island, to defend against potential attacks from the Spanish fleet. A couple were built not long after Desterro became a town, including the Fortaleza de Santo Antonio and the Fortaleza Sao José da Ponta Grossa, both of which were completed in 1740. The Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao made an appearance just two years later, while perhaps the most impressive is the Fortaleza Santana, which dates back to the early 1760s.

History of Florianopolis as the Santa Catarina Capital

The town of Nossa Senhora do Desterro and its port were noted for their position between the powerful cities of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Migrants came from Portugal, coming from Madeira and the Azores in particular. They came in search of work and soon joined the cotton farms and textile factories, arriving in their thousands.

By the early 1800s, Desterro had become relatively affluent and in 1823, it was awarded the status of Santa Catarina's provincial capital. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary was completed not long after this, in the year of 1830, after taking more than 40 years to build.

Post-Brazil independence, Desterro was eventually renamed to the historic city of Floriano, or Florianopolis, in 1893 to show loyalty to the then president of Brazil, Floriano Vieira de Araújo Peixoto (in office between 1891 and 1894). Prior to this, the president, nicknamed the 'Iron Marshal', often had people shot for rebelling against government centralisation.

German Influence and Today

Waves of immigrants, mainly from Europe, came to Brazil in the 1800s. Many Germans settled on the island with the hopes of acquiring land around Florianopolis in 1828. Although they were unsuccessful in garnering much land, they continued to live here in relative isolation.

Since getting to mainland Brazil was only possible by boat or ferry, the feasibility of a lengthy bridge was often discussed. In the early 1920s, a suspension bridge named the Hercilio Luz was designed and built, being completed in 1926. Two further bridges have since been built (named the Colombo Sales and the Pedro Ivo), although the Hercilio Luz Bridge has been closed since 1991, after it was deemed to be unsafe and too costly to repair.

After Brazil declared war against Germany in 1942, the German immigrants were forced to flee or follow Brazilian customs, meaning that they would have to learn the language of Portuguese. Most stayed on, imparting a noticeable German influence on the city and the island as a whole. The local community is now particularly cosmopolitan, following the arrival of Italian, Japanese and Polish migrants.

Florianopolis Today

The history of Florianopolis may not be of interest to all holiday makers, since many tourists tend to come primarily for the coastal attractions and the beaches. However, others are keen to explore, paying a visit to some of the numerous churches of the city and the old fortifications dotted around the island.

The best place to appreciate the history of Florianopolis is around the Praca XV de Novembro. This lively plaza forms the heart of the city and is surrounded by a series of attractive landmarks. The History Museum of Santa Catarina (Museu Historico de Santa Catarina) resides here and is an especially good place to learn more.