In downtown of Ilhabela, known as The Village, old buildings stand out such as the jail, the church, and the town hall.
The former Hotel Sao Paulo has turned into a cozy little shopping mall with antiques stores, fashion and ice cream and cakes and sweets outlets. It is right in front of the pier where anglers dwell in heaven.
At night the lighted buoys turn the water into a starseeded sky. On friendly nights the hooks fetch the local version of small barracudas called "espadas" (swords), fierce but great tasting fighters. Within the streets of the colonial village of Ilhabela stores with fashion and watersports gear, as sophisticated as the five star restaurants and hotels.
Igreza Matriz, The Church - Located on a small hill with a beautiful view at the foot of the hill of Baepí (The Village Ilhabela), stands the church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda (The helping Madonna) inaugurated in 1806.
Its interior is ample with an internal length of 40 and a width of 10 meters. The floor was made with marble from Spain, Minas Gerais and Santa Catarina.
The ceiling presents an oil painting of the Nossa Senhora da Ajuda and the stucco-work is an exact reproduction of the former cathedral in Sao Paulo.
Beside the thirtyfive steps that lead to the entrance are statues of Sao Sebastiao, Sao Paulo and Sao Benedito.
Garapocaia Beach, Ilhabela - A mysterious place that has many legends and histories.
Garapocaia, a name given by the local indians that means "the resounding stone", due to a bunch of great rocks at the place.
The phenomenon of producing a beautiful metallic sound when hit with another stone made them also known as "Bell Stone", kind which is also found at the beach of Santa Rita in Ubatuba.
