São Francisco de Paula Church

A simple building in front of a privileged view of the border between Jurerê e Canasvieiras draws the attention of passersby. It's the São Francisco de Paula Church! Construction began in 1830 but took many years. This delay in completion justifies the non-equivalence of its architectural features. The volumetry (dimensions that determine the volume of a building, the aggregates, the earth removed or placed on the ground) has a colonial style, but its interior is composed of more recent altars and altarpieces. The church is a reminder of the time when the beach was a place for fishing, agriculture and livestock. It was built in honor of São Francisco de Paula when an image of the saint was found on Canasvieiras beach. Today, the church is listed as a historical patrimony of Florianópolis as it is considered one of the few examples of colonial architectural design.