Centro Historico de Laguna

The Centro Historico de Laguna is a compact colonial quarter in southern Santa Catarina, built from the mid-1700s onwards and preserved by federal heritage listing since 1985. It matters because on 29 July 1839 the Republica Juliana — an eleven-day rebel republic led by Giuseppe Garibaldi and his Brazilian wife Anita — was declared here, making Laguna a small but real footnote in both Brazilian and Italian national history. The streets are cobblestone, the buildings pastel two-storey colonial, and the town has not yet been overrun by mainstream tourism.

The visit is a walking loop of about 90 minutes. Start at Praca da Republica Juliana, where a plaque marks the declaration, then walk to the Casa de Anita Garibaldi (now a small museum with her letters and Garibaldi's saddle, R$8 entry). The Igreja de Santo Antonio dos Anjos, built 1696-1735, holds the town's oldest structure and a wooden ceiling painted with Portuguese saints. From the church, a five-minute walk downhill lands you at the fishing pier where local fishermen and dolphins still cooperatively drive mullet into the nets — a UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage practice, best watched at dawn from April to July.

Best on a weekday morning; Saturdays crowd up with day-trippers from Florianopolis and Sundays some museums shut. Skip Laguna in high summer when the surrounding beaches (Praia do Mar Grosso, Praia da Cigana) draw everything and the historic centre gets deserted. Combine with lunch at Restaurante Farol de Santa Marta 20 km away for grilled tainha, and if you have time the Farol lighthouse itself — the tallest in the Americas that still uses its original French-made 1891 Fresnel lens.

Hours & entry

Free to walk · Museu Anita Garibaldi R$8

Streets always open · Museum Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00 · Churches 8:00-11:30 and 15:00-18:00

What to see

{'what': 'Casa de Anita Garibaldi', 'where': 'Praca Vidal Ramos, corner of Rua Fernandes Machado'}

{'what': 'Dolphin-fisherman cooperation', 'where': 'Fishing pier at Molhes da Barra, best 06:00-09:00 Apr-Jul'}

{'what': 'Igreja de Santo Antonio dos Anjos', 'where': 'Praca da Republica Juliana, top of the historic centre'}

Tips from the ground

The dolphin fishing is real and dawn-only — set an alarm and drive out early.

Museu Anita Garibaldi closes at 17:00 but stops selling tickets at 16:30.

Best coffee stop is Cafe Historico on Rua Voluntarios da Patria.