From former Portuguese colony to Brazilian Dubai. A study of Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil

D. John VI, worrying about Brazilian borders, decided to populate Brazil’s southern region. In May 1818, the first Portuguese colonizers arrived in Rio de Janeiro to settle the colony, Nova Ericeiera in Enseada das Garoupas, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The location to install the families, church, cemetery was planned out; the lands were donated through a raffle and single people were sent to lands close to the Camboriu River. Upon Brazil’s Independence (1822), the colony went on to be called Porto Belo due to the coastal beauty. In spite of the difficulties, the colony didn’t succumb. In the 1970s, construction of Highway BR 101, which connects São Paulo to the south of Brazil, improved access to the region. Camboriu has stood out in recent years for its modern luxurious skyscrapers which are approximately 70 stories tall, stimulating large scale economic and touristic development, thus becoming known as the “Brazilian Dubai”.