Brusque can be explored through cultural sites with different focuses: city history, personal collections, marble sculpture and the pilgrimage tradition of Azambuja. When planning your stay, consider whether you would first like to learn about the city’s history in a museum or focus on the religious history of Azambuja. The sites offer different ways to do so, from a chronological exhibition to the history of a pilgrimage center.
Museums: City History and Collections
The Museu Casa de Brusque combines city history with a chronological exhibition format. Its collection has been open to the public since 1971. The permanent exhibition presents the history of Brusque as a timeline on touchscreens, organizing the historical narrative chronologically. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; admission is free. Check opening hours and current exhibition details before your visit: hours may change, and exhibition content may be updated.
The Museu-Casa de Aldo Krieger is located in the center of Brusque. It houses personal belongings, sheet music, photographs and musical instruments associated with Aldo Krieger and his family. The collection therefore includes items from personal life as well as written, photographic and musical materials; alongside the city-history timeline, it offers a biographical perspective. The Museu Arquidiocesano Dom Joaquim was established in 1933 with a private collection from the estate of Joca Brandão. Its origins as a collection are therefore a central part of its story. The Museu Internacional das Esculturas Ilse Teske has a different focus: following the site’s conversion into a museum in 2026, it contains 40 marble sculptures. The museums thus differ in their focus on city history, the origins of a private collection and sculpture.
Azambuja and the Pilgrimage Tradition
Azambuja is associated with the history of pilgrimage. The site developed into a pilgrimage center starting in April 1887; on September 1, 1905, the Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Caravaggio de Azambuja was elevated to the status of an episcopal shrine. These two dates mark different historical steps: first, the development of the pilgrimage center, and later, the shrine’s ecclesiastical status. The Santuário is considered a destination for tourists from all over Brazil, who go there to fulfill vows, ask the saint for something or get to know the site. The history of the pilgrimage center thus brings together a range of personal reasons for visiting.
Architectural History in Brusque
The former Igreja Matriz São Luís Gonzaga can also be placed in context through its precise construction dates: it was designed and built between 1874 and 1877. Its bell tower was 25 meters high; two of its bells were donated by Emperor Dom Pedro II. The construction period, tower height and donor of the bells provide a concrete glimpse into the former church and its architectural history. This period predates Azambuja’s development into a pilgrimage center, which began in 1887. The architectural history and pilgrimage tradition can therefore be considered as distinct topics from different periods.
Discover more destinations: Bom Jesus, Itapema, Joinvile, Sambaqui, Gaspar, Araquari, São Lourenço Do Oeste, Siderópolis.
For the broader travel overview: Santa Catarina.
