Joinville is one of the largest city in Santa Catarina, in the Southern Region of Brazil. In 2009, its population was approximately 500,000, the majority of whom are of German descent.

Joinville's metropolitan area exceeds 1 million inhabitants. Owing to urban development and relatively good infrastructure, Joinville has become a major center for events and business conferences. The city has one of the highest standards of living in Brazil. The city retains many aspects of the German culture, in its architecture, in the local dishes, parties and in the way of life of its inhabitants, known as workaholics.

Joinville is the host city of the Festival de Dança de Joinville (Joinville Dance Festival) which is the world's largest dance event, held every year during the month of July. Joinville is the only city outside of Moscow to have a school of the Bolshoi Ballet, the renowned Russian Ballet Company. The city is home to a Catholic bishop, several Lutheran churches (one of the largest communities in Brazil), a Botanical Garden and a Zoo. Parks, and several beaches are less than an hour's drive away from the city.Joinville is also home to several museums including the "MUBI" bicycle museum.

How to get there:
By road: Joinville is 135 km away from Curitiba on the BR-101, and 184 km from Florianópolis, the state capital.