Listed by the Brazilian Historical Patrimony, Laguna was founded on July 29, 1676, by the pioneer Domingos de Brito Peixoto, who called the site Santo Antonio dos Anjos de Laguna. The settlement grew and in 1714, it was elevated to the category of village. Presently, the city is the perfect scenario for a meeting with nature and a time voyage. The tourist route includes historical sites like museums, the eclectic architecture, the listed monuments such as the Main Church, the culture of the Azorean people and leisure. Beaches, lagoons and other natural beauties reinforce the scenery of that beautiful city.

Those who visit Laguna count on facilities like hotels, restaurants, snack bars and pubs, commercial establishments that are open throughout the year and make the visit even more pleasurable.

The existence of a natural port sheltered from strong winds and turbulent waters, surrounded by plains, with firm soil, which would allow for the construction of a village, the easy and abundant supply of good quality water and, mainly, its strategical position on the imaginary meridian of Tordesilhas, guaranteeing the limits of the Portuguese possession were some of the characteristics that made Laguna a good choice for being, in the past, an “advanced post” of the Portuguese Crown and support site for the development of the southern region of Brazil. The choice of the sites for the villages of Nossa Senhora da Graça do Rio São Francisco (presently São Francisco do Sul) in 1645, and Nossa Senhora do Desterro (presently Florianópolis) in 1651 followed the same principles.

In 1725, the founder of the city, Domingos de Brito Peixoto, sent his son-in-law, João de Magalhães, on a fleet to conquer the south of Brazil (state of Rio Grande do Sul). The expedition was victorious; with the conquest and consequent development of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. That is the reason why the city coat of arms shows a Latin sentence that means, “To the south I took Brazil”. Laguna became a city in 1847.

On April 17, 1856, the county of Laguna was created and it was inaugurated in the following year. Having reached the spotlight during the Farrapos civil war, in which it defended the republican ideals, it was in Laguna that, for the second time in the Brazilian territory, a Republic was established (the Republica Juliana or Catarinense). However it did not last long, from July 29, 1839 through November 15, 1839, since the imperial army took the territory over again. The Republica Juliana remains, throughout the years, as an example of culture, ideal and courage of the people from Laguna, defending their ideals of justice and equality.

Among the Farroupilha rebels was Giuseppe Garibaldi. When in Laguna, Garibaldi met Ana de Jesus Ribeiro. Garibaldi used to call the girl, Anita. They fell in love and Anita followed him till the end of his life. She died in Italy and is considered a heroine of the people of Santa Catarina and of two worlds.

Geographic location: Laguna is located at the following geographical coordinates: 28, 28”, 54 South and 48, 46”, 56” West GR. Limits: North: cities of Imbituba and Imaruí; South: Jaguaruna; East: Atlantic Ocean; and West: Tubarão, Gravatal and Capivari de Baixo.

The local economy is based on fishing with a high production rate of shrimp and crab. Cattle raising and agriculture are developed in the countryside. Tourism, commerce and small businesses and industry are also important economic activities in the city.

Translation: Maria Cecília Pastorelli.
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