Santa Catarina, a pirate island colonised by Portuguese from the Azores, enjoys a magnificent natural setting, numerous beaches prized by swimmers and surfers alike, not to mention the vibrantly colourful city of Florianopolis. The town, on the banks of Lake Conceição, warmly greets its visitors with its atmospheric streets, a testament to the intermingling of cultures and home to historic buildings such as the Cruz e Souza Palace and the Hercilio Luz suspension bridge. Sport, gastronomy and night clubs are the Holy Trinity of the visitors who flock to the town throughout the year to enjoy the gentle climate and unrivalled hospitality of the island.