Did you know that in Florianópolis you can walk part of the St. James of Compostela way?
Yes, it is! It's an approximately 21-kilometre path in the north of Santa Catarina Island that has been recognized by the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain as part of the historic route. It can even be used to count the mileage needed to obtain the Compostela, the coveted pilgrim's certificate. It also serves as preparation for those who wish to walk the route in Spain.
To be accepted as part of the Way of Saint James, the route must be at least 20 km long and pass by 4 churches. The route on Santa Catarina fulfills this requirement, including 2 trails along the way.
The History of the Way in Europe
The St. James Way dates back to the Middle Ages, when the faithful began making the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. James of Compostela, where the saint's body was buried. Legend has it that James, Christ's apostle, after the death of his master, set off on an evangelizing journey through Palestine to Spain and then back to Palestine, where he was beheaded at the behest of Herod Agrippa. According to legend, two of his disciples carried his body to the site where Saint James' Cathedral now stands.
There are reports of pilgrimages as early as the 9th century, seeking the blessings of Christ's holy friend. These pilgrimages grew in the Middle Ages and were then almost forgotten, only being revived in the 20th century.
The Brazilian way
The Brazilian path was established in 2017 and runs between Canasvieiras and Ingleses neighborhoods, in the north of the Magic Island, through stretches of beach, streets and trails.
Canasvieiras Church
The journey begins at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Canasvieiras. This church was inaugurated in 2002 and consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness saint of Latin America, as Canasvieiras is a neighborhood that receives many Latin tourists, especially from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The neighborhood got its name, Canasvieiras, because of the existence of canas-vieiras (Arundo donax), a species of long grass, also known as king cane. It is not used to make sugar and is more like bamboo. This species is not currently seen in the region.
Canasvieiras was also the scene of an important event in the history of Santa Catarina, as it was the landing place for the Spanish troops that invaded and took over the island in 1777, remaining in possession of the region for about a year.
In this church it is possible to buy the Way of Saint James of Compostela credential with the stamps that represent the four churches that form part of the route. In May 2022, they were sold for R$20.00 each.
Ponta das Canas Church
Leaving the Church of Canasvieiras, you continue along the beachfront until you reach the end of Cachoeira de Bom Jesus beach, where you begin a long journey through the streets of the neighborhood, to the Church of Saint Peter, in Ponta das Canas.
This neighborhood was named after the end of Canasvieiras beach, the tip of Canas. Until the 1980s, it was mainly occupied by fishermen, which is why the church was named after St. Peter, a fisherman.
After St. Peter's Church, you walk along another stretch of street until you reach Lagoinha beach, also known as Lagoinha do Norte or Lagoinha da Ponta das Canas (not to be confused with Lagoinha do Leste beach), which is covered in sand for its entire length. At the end, you have to go out onto the street again, but only for a few meters, because then comes the best part, in our opinion.
Rapa Trail
The Rapa Hill trail starts just after Lagoinha Beach. It's a beautiful trail that offers the first major challenge of the day, the 160-meter gain in altitude, but also numerous natural viewpoints. The first of these is an immense rock window that offers an incredible view of the tip of Rapa, the northernmost point of Santa Catarina Island.
Walking a little further, you reach another natural viewpoint from where you can see the whole of Lagoinha beach, Canasvieiras and part of the mainland. Here you can get a sense of how far you've walked.
A few meters further on, there is another lookout point, which is a paragliding ramp and from where you can see an incredible view of much of the north of Santa Catarina Island with the Brava, Ingleses and Canasvieiras beaches.
Feiticeiras Trail (Sorceress Trail)
Leaving the Rapa Trail, you walk along another stretch of road until you reach Brava Beach. The Feiticeiras Hill Trail begins on the south shore of Brava. This is the place where, according to Franklin Cascaes, the witches' convention with the devil took place, one of the many popular narratives of the island that Cascaes recorded.
The Feiticeiras Hill trail doesn't offer natural viewpoints, but an intense immersion in the regenerating Atlantic Forest.
The end of the Feiticeiras Hill Trail is at the northern tip of Praia dos Ingleses.
Ingleses Beach
Once the two trails have been beaten, the final walk is entirely along Ingleses Beach. The beach was named after the shipwreck of English privateers in the 17th century, who were arrested by the founder of the city of Desterro (the former name of Florianópolis), the pioneer Francisco Dias Velho, and who years later returned to the island to take revenge, killing Dias Velho in the area where the parish church now stands.
The path runs along almost the entire edge of Ingleses Beach, for about 4 km, until it reaches the Church of Our Lady of the Navigators. This is the oldest of the churches on the way, dating from 1839. Like the Church of Saint Peter, it is very close to the sea and linked to fishing, as many fishermen are also sailors.
The final stretch (2 km) takes you through the streets of the Ingleses neighborhood until you arrive at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This arrival is usually filled with jubilation, not only for the feeling of victory, but also for the joy of having experienced intense moments of reflection in direct contact with nature.
Although the route used to be dedicated to the cult of Saint James, today the pilgrimage is much more ecumenical in nature, bringing together people who seek peace and self-knowledge through walking and reflection.
Information and guidance
If you want to follow this route on your own, follow the link to our Wikiloc and the information provided by Associação Catarinense dos Amigos do Caminho de Santiago de Compostela.
But if you feel insecure or want cultural and historical information along the way, contact us and we'll guide you along the way.
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