FLORIANPOLIS

port city and capital, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, lying on the west coast of the Ilha (island) de Santa Catarina and linked to the mainland by the longest bridge in Brazil, the Hercilio Luz Bridge. The first European settlement on the island was made in 1542 by Spaniards, but in 1675 control passed to the Portuguese, who established Desterro on the present city site in 1700. The settlement was given town status in 1726 and was raised to city rank in 1823. In 1893 the island was captured by revolutionaries who opposed the government of Brazilian president Floriano Peixoto. When the revolution collapsed, the city was renamed to honour the president. Central Florianpolis consists mainly of wharves, warehouses, and business establishments. This older harbour district is encircled by a modern residential section known as Praia de Fora, built on hill slopes. Florianpolis is the seat of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (1960) and the Universidade Para o Desenvolvimento do Estado de Santa Catarina (1966). Museums include the Anthropological Museum and the San Jaqui Museum. The city serves as the state administrative and commercial centre despite the problems of access to the interior caused by the unusually steep escarpment at the edge of the Serra do Paran on the mainland. Industries produce metallurgical and electrical communications equipment, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and perfume. Florianpolis is linked with other coastal towns, such as Curitiba and Prto Alegre, by all-weather highways and steamers. There is air service to So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Prto Alegre. Pop. (1980 prelim.) 153,547.