During the age of sail, ships required frequent stops to replenish their drinking water. It is for that reason, and very little else, that Portuguese sailors settled on the Ilha de Santa Catarina. This outpost was originally named 'Desterro'-literally meaning 'Exile', and even as mainland Santa Catarina became populated over the course of the 19th century, its isolated capital remained small and underdeveloped. It wasn't until 1927 that a bridge connecting Florianópolis to mainland Santa Catarina opened, but it took just a few decades for it to develop into a sizable and wealthy city. Today Florianópolis is the principal cultural center for the whole southern region. Its museums, beaches, and prestigious university, attract students, artists, retirees, and most recently tourists, from across the country.