Florianópolis, also commonly known by the nicknames Floripa and Ilha da Magia (Magic Island), is the capital of the state of Santa Catarina, in the South region of Brazil. The city encompasses Santa Catarina Island and surrounding small islands, as well as part of the mainland. It has a population of 574,200, according according to a preview of the 2022 IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) census, while the metropolitan area has an estimated population of 1,209,818, the 21st largest in the country. The city is known for having a high quality of life, with the country’s highest Human Development Index score among all Brazilian capitals (0.847). The city has some of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches and has 100 registered beaches, being a center of surfing activity. Florianopolis has become one of the most popular destinations in Brazil for people who are looking for superb beaches, beautiful scenery, interesting culture and friendly people. Recently, it has also experienced a real estate boom, with Brazilians looking for a better quality of life away from the chaos of the big cities. The city of Florianopolis is quite modern, with large shopping malls, chain and high-end restaurants and many glamorous bars and nightclubs.