São Francisco do Sul, Historical coastal municipality in Santa Catarina, Brazil
Description
São Francisco do Sul sits on an island at the entrance of Babitonga Bay and connects to the mainland through a bridge. The municipality covers beaches, forested hills, and areas with dense construction around the old port.
History
Portuguese settlers founded the town in the mid-1600s and quickly turned it into an anchorage for ships sailing along the Brazilian coast. Over the centuries the municipality grew into a hub for trade in timber, mate, and other goods from the interior.
Culture
Residents move through the compact downtown for daily errands, while the houses with whitewashed walls and windows painted in bold colors recall the era when the port served as the only link to the outside world. On weekends the lanes fill with visitors who stroll through the shops and sample fresh seafood at the small restaurants.
Practical
Many streets in the historic center are narrow and paved with cobblestones, so walking is the easiest way to explore that area. Beyond the center paved roads lead to beaches and nature reserves accessible by car or bus.
Did you know?
The Acaraí reserve covers more than 6,600 hectares within the municipal boundaries and protects remnants of Atlantic rainforest along with mangrove forests. Trails cross parts of the park and allow encounters with birds, amphibians, and native plants that have become rare elsewhere.
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Forte Marechal Luz
68 m
Ilha da Paz Lighthouse
16.9 km
Acaraí State Park
10.4 km
Baía da Babitonga Wildlife Reserve
6 km
Praia de Itaguaçu
12.7 km
Santa Catharina
4.8 km
Nossa Senhora da Graça
112 m
Itapoá's lighthouse
9.2 kmPraia Antônio Pereira
6.2 kmPraia Grande
11.5 kmMorro da Cruz
6.5 kmMorro Jacutinga
8.3 km
Historic center of São Francisco do Sul
171 mMorro das Laranjeiras
6.3 kmMorro da Ribeira
9.6 km
Acervo do Museu Nacional do Mar
278 mMuseu Nacional do Mar - Embarcações Brasileiras
275 mMarina Pontal 55-47-3443-7244
8 kmÁrvore da Vida
3.9 kmPeixaria do Mercado Público
239 mCasarão Antigo
10.5 kmPraia Bonita
4.3 kmPraia da Saudade
13.8 kmPraia de Enseada
12.9 kmCachoeira Casarão
10.6 kmPraia de Ubatuba
12 kmPraia do Capri
9.3 kmPraia da Boca da Barra
24 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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