Land of his birth
Friar Antônio de Sant'Anna Galvão was born in Guaratinguetá, a city located in the São Paulo state (Brazil), in the Paraíba valley, between the mountain ranges of Mar and Mantiqueira. This place began as a small chapel in honor of Saint Anthony, around 1630. By 1651, there was a village functioning there. Later on many important religious events would take place in this town.
In 1717, the famous statue of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, was found in the Paraíba river, near Itaguaçu port, at the end of the village.
Shortly afterwards, in 1739, Antônio Galvão was born in the village. He was baptized in the main church in honor of the Franciscan saint, Anthony.
Today that spot is the Cathedral of the area. According to locallegends, Friar Antônio Galvão inherited all the gifts and sanctity of his name sake.