Above the links for the photos and more information of the enchanting island of São Francisco do Sul.

São Francisco do Sul in Video! Click and watch it!

Below, some of its history:

São Francisco do Sul, founded on 23 March 1658 – has celebrated 500 years in 2004, is considered the third oldest city in Brazil.
The population of the island is about 32.261 (16.177 men and 16.084 women). In the city there are 22.538 voters. It has a land area of 425 Km2.
Here, the French first arrived. The Island of São Francisco do Sul was the haven of the Binot Paulmier of Honfleur’s expedition in 1504, four years after the official date of Brazil’s discovery. This expedition, funded by traders from Normandy, has left the harbour of Honfleur on 24 June 1503, in order to search the “beautiful riches of India”. The Nau L’Espoir down the Atlantic coast of Africa and became disoriented, landing on January 1504 on unknown lands which is known today as the coast of Santa Catarina. During the period of 6 months, Gonnevilly and his crew lived with the friendly and hospitable Carijós, led by Chief Arosca. So much hospitable that when the commander returned to France, he took with him the son of the Cacique Içá-Mirim, promising to return it in the period of 20 moons, after teaching him the use of the artillery. Gonneville started on 3 July 1504 and Içá-Mirim, named on the high seas with the commander Binot’s name, remained in France, where he married a relative of the captain and had 14 children. To mark the passage of the expedition was raised a wooden cross with the inscription: “Binot Paulmier of Gonneville planted this sacred object here, associated with a Norman lineage”.
The effective settlement of São Francisco do Sul began in 1658 with Manoel Lourenço de Andrade, who brought with him besides his family, large number of slaves, cattle, agricultural implements and tools for mining.
The village was risen to the status Town in 1660 and in 1665 São Francisco do Sul was elevated to Parish on 23 September 2005 by a federal decree.

Historic Centre