Florianopolis (affectionately called Floripa) is the capital city of the state of Santa Caterina, in southern Brazil.  The city is built on an island (also called Florianopolis) linked to the mainland by two bridges.  The old town has some beautiful old Portuguese colonial buildings and an excellent market.

Florianopolis has the highest HDI in the whole of Brazil, and is blessed with 42 beautiful beaches, as a result beautiful people from Brazil, Argentina, USA and Europe go to party there!  The Atlantic beaches can be wild and windswept and are popular with surfers; those facing the mainland are calmer and visited by families and fishermen.  In the centre of the island the Lagoa de Conceicao is ringed with pretty holiday homes and fish restaurants.

The photos above include some taken at Balneario Camboriu and Guardo do Embau, two holiday towns on the mainland. Photos in this set were taken in 2005, 2006 and 2012.