Laguna: Old Town, Tradition and Botos Fishing

Laguna combines an extensive historic center with religious customs and a distinctive fishing tradition. The historic center, designated a protected heritage site by IPHAN in 1985, includes around 600 properties. This means the focus is not just on a single landmark: the Old Town itself is a central attraction for anyone wishing to include architecture and history in their trip. The experiences also vary considerably in character and timing—from views of individual houses to seasonal activity at the Molhes da Barra.

Historic Center and Architectural Heritage

In the historic center stands Casa Pinto D’Ulysséa. It displays features of a Portuguese quinta and has hand-painted tiles. Fonte da Carioca is located in Praça Lauro Muller next to Casa Pinto. It is a tourist attraction and is supplied with mineral water. This brings together two distinct details in one particular place: at the house, the architectural style and tiles draw the eye; at the spring, its mineral water supply. Anyone who enjoys paying attention to architectural details will find a distinctive way to explore Laguna’s historic architecture here.

Cine Teatro Mussi offers another perspective on built heritage. A small museum on the second floor tells the story of the building. While Casa Pinto’s design features stand out, Cine Teatro Mussi focuses on the building’s history. These two examples highlight different aspects: visible architectural forms and tiles on the one hand, and the history of a building on the other.

Religious Customs and Seasonal Fishing

Religious traditions also provide a seasonal point of reference for a trip. At Igreja Santo Antônio dos Anjos, celebrations in honor of the saint, trezenas, processions and the distribution of Santo Antônio rolls traditionally take place on June 13. For travelers interested in religious customs, June 13 is therefore a clearly specified date to keep in mind. The various traditions mentioned—from celebrations and trezenas to processions and the distribution of rolls—make the customs tangible.

Another seasonal tradition is cooperative fishing with Botos. During the Tainha fishing season from June to July, it is an attraction at the Molhes da Barra, especially on days with southerly winds. These travel interests differ in their timing: the religious customs are traditionally tied to June 13, while the fishing is tied to a season and, in particular, to days with southerly winds. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these experiences, keep the relevant period in mind.

Excursions and Finding the Right Vacation Rental

Farol de Santa Marta is 20 km south of the center of Laguna. It can be reached via the Lagoa Santo Antônio channel, a ferry and the SC-100. Check local traffic conditions before setting out. The lighthouse can be included as a separate excursion in your plans, with a route that involves both the channel and the ferry. If Farol is part of your plans, take the route described and local traffic conditions into account.

Discover more destinations: Concórdia, Papanduva, Piratuba, São Francisco Do Sul, Governador Celso Ramos, Jaguaruna, Itapema, Forquilhinha.

For the broader travel overview: Santa Catarina.