Vineyard Island

Ilha das Vinhas is a small rocky island in front of José Mendes beach, in the central region of Florianópolis. Distant approximately 120 meters from the beach, it is not inhabited. Its name is derived from the first application given by José Mendes, former owner of the land in the region, who used it for the cultivation of vines. Later, from the 1920s to the 1960s, when Texaco S/A, a distributor of petroleum products, came to operate in Florianópolis, Ilha das Vinhas became a warehouse for barrels with fuel oil, lubricating oil, gasoline and kerosene. To this day, it is possible to find the ruins of this ancient deposit hidden amidst the vegetation. Ilha das Vinhas was also a good place for artisanal fishing, both for shrimp and small fish and cockles. Currently, with the pollution of the south bay, its waters and fish are not suitable for consumption and bathing.