Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre, a city that "adds energies", stands out among hills and plains, by the Guaíba river. The Guaíba is fed by four great rivers, and continues on to form the Patos Lagoon, the biggest in Brazil, 250 Kilometers long 50 Kilometers wide.

Upon arrival, the newcomer senses "something" in the air, along the streets, the sunsets, the spontaneous glee the city has, to seduce and involve the visitors. A place for labour and pleasure, it has around it more than 13 districts, forming a significant Metropolitan Region Along the shores of its rivers, modern industries, universities, hospitals, stadiums, squares and avenues, swimming and boating clubs, a varied and multicolored architecture, the downtown buildings and the outskirt farms, sweet water beaches, and more. One can hardly believe that all this only began around the 1730s, when pioneer farmers settled in Viamão to raise cattle.

Rio Grande do Sul

Besides its priviledged geographical location, between the two biggest touristic poles in South America - Rio de Janeiro/ São Paulo and Montivideu/ Buenos Aires - the state of Rio Grande do Sul offers various landscapes. Cultural, peculiar and characteristic attractions, mean a permanent reason for a visit. The diversification of its natural aspects. A mild summer climate and a winter that reaches low temperatures, with occasional snow on the plateau and highlands. Rio Grande do Sul is rich in folklore. The hospitality of its people, the good hotel network, and the plentiful and varied food, makes Rio Grande do Sul a welcoming state.

Nature

From the seashore to the hinterland, from the Aparados da Serra in the north to the Coxilhas in the south and west, along the way from Torres to Porto Alegre, and from there to Uruguayan territory, in the radiant valleys of the Depressão Central, on the slopes of the Serra and on the plateaus at Cima da Serra - everywhere nature presents breathtaking scenarios.

The four seasons print surprising colors and hues to the landscape, which in winter may remind Cézanne and Van Gogh. One must not forget that this is tropical country, but Rio Grande do Sul has the priviledge of being in the southern Temperate Zone, with an average year temperature of 18 degrees Centigrade.

The characteristic vegetation species of a transition zone, the native pastures for the cattle, the pine forests, the black acacia and eucalipt plantations, the wheat and soybean cultures, the vineyards, the wavy relief of the coxilhas, down into Uruguay - one can rarely find a flower carpet as fine as this.

Live Frontiers

Here, thanks to the flow of various populating currents, the hand of man accomodates the natural aspects to will, with a tenacity that calls attention, according to the different patterns of culture. The planted fields, the "estâncias", the factories, the shipyards, the ports, evereything has a dinamism that invites to new enterprises.

Today's "Gaucho"population, with a predominating European heritage, is vibrant, happy, relaxed and friendly. Besides, no other Brazilian state rivals Rio Grande do Sul concening live frontiers.

Daily Life

But it is also necessary to observe the wealth, the peace, the serene beauty of the hinterland, contacting the small communities - places for work and leisure. The most typical cities in the various regions - Serra, Depressão Central, Alto Uruguai, Litoral and Fronteira Oeste - constitute an observation field for as many as wish an applied sociology lesson.

The observer, even the most careless, will not miss it. Dinamism, prosperity and confidence in the future would be, however, very little if they did not come along with the hospitality already turned proverbial. The popular culture manifestations, the typical habits, the re-creations, the rich protein diet (churrasco, galeto, colonial soup), the good wine the profusion of everything and everywhere, make Rio Grande do Sul a touristic attraction for all.

There is more, though - a style of life - to make the stay interesting: the good looks of the people, their general culture, the afability, the women's gracefulness, the home-look at the squares and gardens everywhere. In this atmosphere, no matter where the tourist came from, he immediately feels at ease with the Gaúcho, this young and hardworking man who took the task of implanting civilization in meridional Brazil.