Itapema

Itapema
one of Itapema's beaches
Flag Seal
Location of Itapema
Country	Brazil
Region	South
State	Santa Catarina
Founded	April 21, 1962
Government
• Mayor	Sabino Bussanello (PT)
Area
• Total	59.022 km2 (22.789 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population  (2006)
• Total	33,766
• Density	572.1/km2 (1,482/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (UTC-2)
HDI (2000)	0.835
Website	www.itapema.sc.gov.br

Itapema is a city in Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is situated at latitude 27º05'25 " South and longitude 48º36'41 " West, being 2 meters above mean sea level. Its population in 2006 was estimated at 35,990 inhabitants.

"Itapema Meia Praia" preserves small waterfalls and streams and keeps traditions of the Azorean colonizers that can be observed in the fishing villages.

In the 1980s the construction of some buildings started. As a consequence, the number of houses has decliend and the construction of building of apartments in Itapema and Meia Praia has increased.

The beaches remain the biggest tourist attraction, but planned public constructions such as the Bridge of Sighs and the Square of Peace with its large shell acoustical stage backdrop that hosts shows.

Meia Praia

Meia Praia is the popular name of a quarter south of Itapema proper. The southern part of the city is more well known to tourists. Its extensive beach attract thousands of tourists all summer long. It contains a comprehensive commercial infrastructure with banks, supermarkets, shopping centers, cinema, bars and restaurants, bookstores as well as churches.

In the city of Itapema, the name of the streets, differing from other cities in the area, are numbered. A main avenue in the called Nereu Ramos block.

All the one-way streets that lead to beach (sea-side) are odd and all the streets that lead away from the beach are even numbers. In the Swallow quarter, or popularly known as Meia Praia (Middle Beach), the streets start with 200 and go until 340.

Expansion of the Civil Construction

500 thousand square meters of civil construction projects have been constructed in the city of Itapema from 2003 through 2005. The executive secretary of the civil construction union of Itapema, Landmark Aurélio Quioderoli, currently affirms investment in civil construction of around R$ 1 billion per year in businesses, in direct or indirect form, with new constructions, purchase and sales of new and pre-owned property.

Union statisticians indicate a growth of 18% in the sector in relation to the previous year. The numbers are specifically based on enterprises directed toward the classrooms and the B. To provide an idea of the importance of the civil construction in Itapema and Meia Praia, commercial commerce transports 500 metric tons of steel and 22 thousand bags of cement per month. The sector is currently responsible for the employment of 800 workers, and is estimated to exceed the support of two thousand indirect jobs.

Property of High Standard in Meia Praia and Itapema

The secretary points that the construction companies have sought to produce top of line properties, which are in demand by those looking to the region for the acquisition of property. Builders are continuing to invest in fair and events technicians to modernize the area and make it more attractive.

The building entrepreneurs affirm that one of the factors that have influenced in the preservation of the quality of life in the city is the accompaniment on the part of the public sector infrastructure works.

Tourism in Meia Praia and Itapema

Itapema is the third most popular tourist destination in the state of Santa Catarina and in recent years has become a lone laidback beach destination without the nightlife and parties that attract young people from throughout the region. Although Itapema does not host these attractions it is in itself a natural port city. Most of the activity in the city occurs during the tourist or high season. There are many houses and apartments for rent and sale in the area.

The Geography of the city

Itapema and Meia Praia is located right off the highway (four-lane) BR-101, neighbor of the Camboriú Health-resort, the most active beach in the south of the country, a little more than a half hour drive from Florianópolis, the state capital, and the gateway to the cities of Porto Belo (Beautiful Port) and Bombinhas (Little bombs - from the sound of crashing waves).

The tourist housed in Itapema can get to the main tourist attractions of Santa Catarina with short trips by roads.

The city of Itapema still has some infrastructure difficulties, especially in public transportation. In recent years, many things have been improved for example the implementation of the collection and treatment sewer network and the beginning of the works in construction of the Linear Park (calçadão) with kiosks and bike paths.

Kilometres of the rocky coast around Itapema provides a distinct between the sea and Atlantic landscape which forms a natural amphitheater surrounded by the sea.

Beaches of Itapema

Of all the beaches of Itapema, the longest and most famous is Meia Praia (Middle Beach), which provides a comprehensive tourist infrastructure: bars, restaurants, nightclubs, commerce and services along the waterfront and the main avenue.