The building was the official seat of the Juliana Republic during its 1839 rebellion against the Brazilian Empire.
The masonry walls were constructed using a mix of whale oil and lime, a common colonial technique in the region.
Anita Garibaldi met Giuseppe Garibaldi in this town, marking the beginning of their partnership in military and personal life.
The structure functioned as both the town's administrative center and its primary prison until the early 20th century.
The collection holds artifacts from the Sambaquis (shell middens), which are prehistoric archaeological sites common along the Santa Catarina coast.
The Museu Histórico Anita Garibaldi is housed in the former Town Hall and Jail building in Laguna, Santa Catarina, constructed in 1747. The structure served as the headquarters for the short-lived Juliana Republic in 1839. It houses artifacts related to the Farroupilha Revolution and the life of Anita Garibaldi, the Brazilian heroine of two worlds. The collection includes indigenous pottery, colonial-era furniture, and items from the 19th-century conflict. The building itself is a protected national heritage site listed by IPHAN. It sits on the historic Praça República Juliana, the center of Laguna's colonial district. Visitors can view the original jail cells located in the basement levels of the museum. The institution functions as the primary research center for local history in Southern Santa Catarina.
The front facade of the building facing the Praça República Juliana, which captures the colonial architecture and the plaza.
Visit the ground floor jail cells to see the original architecture and read accounts of the prisoners held there.
Combine your visit with a walking tour of the surrounding historic center to see the colonial architecture.
Look for the plaque on the building exterior that marks the historic significance of the Juliana Republic.
Do not mistake it for the Casa de Anita, which is a separate house museum dedicated specifically to Anita Garibaldi's residence.
Typically closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume and do not touch the artifacts or historical walls.
