ANTONIO CARLOS - SC - SOUTH OF BRAZIL
New Venice is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina . Its estimated population in 2011 was 13,447 inhabitants .
Founded by Michael Napoli , an Italian businessman living in the United States , New Venice grew with the arrival of 400 Italian families in 1891 . The following year came another 500 Italian families , coming from Bergamo to Venice and Belluno
The first Italian immigrants arrived to the lands of New Venice in June 1891 , brought by the American company Angelo Fiorita & Co. Michael Napoli , original Italian of Sicily , came first in January and led the opening of roads , the demarcation of land and the construction of a sawmill to receive colonists , a total of 400 families .
Among the first settlers stood out Bortolomeu Dal Moro , Bortolo Bortoluzzi , Alfredo Pessi and others. Bortolomeu Dal Moro was the first European inhabitants to settle in Venice in 1888 .
In October reached over 500 families of Italian , originating from regions of Venice and Bergamo , and founded a colony. The settlers built houses with stones found in the region and the buildings were so strong that many are standing today. In 1991 , during the centenary celebrations of colonization , and the Zulmar Newton Bortolotto , descendants of immigrants , historians have released a book with the history of the city .
With over 95 % of the population descended from Italians, New Venice, the first Italian colony officially installed in Brazil Republic (1891 ) , is a piece of Italy in Santa Catarina .