 guaratinguetÃ¡ is a municipality in the state of sÃ£o paulo in brazil. it is located in the region of vale do paraÃ­ba; prominent individuals from the area include saint frei galvÃ£o, brazilian president rodrigues alves and the cardiologist dr euryclides de jesus zerbini. the name of the city derives from the words in the tupi language: gÃ»yra (heron), tinga (white) and etÃ¡ (many), resulting in gÃ»yrating'etÃ¡ (meeting of white herons). ==history== since early times,guaratinguetÃ¡ was known by the indians of the region for the abundance of herons that lived on the edges of the paraÃ­ba do sul river. the first portuguese settlers arrived at the end of the 16th century, after rumours of mineral wealth hidden in serra da mantiqueira, in the lands known today as minas gerais. the settlement of the region began in 1628, with the donation of lands by jacques felix and his children. on june 13, 1630, construction began of a chapel, that was registered first in livro-tombo da matriz of santo antonio. on february 13, 1651, by intervention of captain domingos leme, a village was raised for the saint antonio of guaratinguetÃ¡, with the opening of the main road. by tradition, the pillory was also raised. during the 18th century, guaratinguetÃ¡ became the main point of supply for the gold miners coming from minas gerais as commerce on the route developed. during that period, the foreign travellers who had passed through there perpetuated the image of guaratinguetÃ¡, as much in books as in paintings, and the village grew. the few narrow streets were filled by people at the end of the centur
Populated_places_established_in_1630 Populated_places_in_SAPSo_Paulo_(state)