historic center · São José, SC
Centro Histórico
Laid out on a grid of streets to receive Azorean immigrants, it brings together Portuguese-Brazilian houses around Praça Hercílio Luz. The Igreja Matriz (main church), built in 1765, is the oldest building in the ensemble, which also includes the Bica da Carioca, from 1840.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Centro Histórico
São José's Historic Center holds the city's oldest core, one of the first settlements in Santa Catarina. It's on the mainland, facing Santa Catarina Island, a few kilometers from downtown Florianópolis.
Settlement began around 1750, with the arrival of couples from the Azores archipelago. The Azorean village left behind stone streets, 18th- and 19th-century houses and Praça Hercílio Luz, home to the Igreja Matriz de São José and the old Casa de Câmara e Cadeia (town hall and jail), a layout typical of Portuguese colonial towns. The church is listed by the state.
The tour is done on foot and fits into a few blocks. Besides the main church, it's worth seeing the Theatro Adolpho Mello, the oldest in Santa Catarina, the Museu Histórico Municipal, housed in the Solar Ferreira de Mello, the city's first listed building, and the row of listed houses on Rua Gaspar Neves. Nearby is the Bica da Carioca, built by the town council in 1840, which for about a century was the residents' main water source.
It's a relaxed outing, good for history and architecture lovers and for families. The ground is flat, but the stone paving can be uneven for wheelchairs or strollers.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
One to two hours to walk the streets, see the church and go into the museum.
Best time
During the day, preferably in the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is softer and the light flatters the facades; dry days make the stone paving safer.
How to get there
It's in downtown São José, in Greater Florianópolis, around Praça Hercílio Luz, near the Baía Sul waterfront. From Florianópolis, take the bridges and the Via Expressa or São José's Avenida Beira-Mar; there are also metropolitan buses.
Tip
Combine your walk with a visit to the Museu Histórico Municipal and check the schedule of the Theatro Adolpho Mello, a few steps from the square.
A look at the place
Centro Histórico in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Centro Histórico
What is there to see in São José's Historic Center?
Praça Hercílio Luz with the Igreja Matriz de São José, the Theatro Adolpho Mello, the Museu Histórico Municipal in the Solar Ferreira de Mello, the listed houses on Rua Gaspar Neves and the Bica da Carioca, from 1840.
When was São José founded?
The settlement began around 1750, with Azorean couples who settled on the mainland across from Santa Catarina Island.
Can I explore São José's Historic Center on foot?
Yes. The main sights are a few blocks from one another, around Praça Hercílio Luz. The stone paving can be uneven.
How long does a visit to São José's Historic Center take?
One to two hours is enough to walk around, see the church and stop by the museum.
Is São José's Historic Center far from Florianópolis?
No. São José borders Florianópolis, on the mainland, and the historic center is a few kilometers from downtown Florianópolis, reachable by car or metropolitan bus.