t Porto Alegre’s downtown skyline, the tight-packed buildings lit up at night
Founded in 1772 on the right bank of the Rio Guaiba, Porto Alegre served as a Portuguese military garrison that guarded against Spanish encroachment into southern Brazil. Today, it is Rio Grande do Sul’s capital and an important hub for culture, business, and events. Most sights and the city’s lively street life are located in the Centro Histórico, Cidade Baixa, Moinhos de Vento, and Rio Guaiba’s waterfront.
t Porto Alegre’s downtown skyline, the tight-packed buildings lit up at night
EXPERIENCE Rio Grande do Sul
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Dating back to 1869, this Neo-Classical-influenced Public Market has a vast collection of stalls selling fresh produce and household goods. Characteristic of the region are the herb stalls selling chá mate (herbal tea) as well as bombas and cuias (silver straws and drinking gourds). Also of interest are stalls devoted to Afro-Brazilian religions, a reminder of those traditions in a part of the country associated primarily with European culture.
Late 20th-century works by local artists are prominently displayed in this museum, as well as an absorbing section of 19th-century art. The museum also hosts a number of interesting traveling exhibitions.
Better known as the Praça da Matriz, this square is home to a number of notable buildings, including the 1773 Catedral Metropolitana. Reconstructed in 1921, it features classical columns and a large hemispherical dome.
Nearby is the Museu Júlio de Castilhos, with artifacts relating to the region’s history. The imposing Palácio Piratini, west of the cathedral, dates from 1909 and houses the state government and the governor’s residence, while the grand Neo-Classical Teatro São Pedro is the city’s prestigious concert hall.
Built in 1928 as a thermo-electrical power station, the Usina opened in 1991 as a cultural center hosting theater and art exhibitions. It also houses a wine museum and a cinema, and the west-facing terrace offers lake views.
In Porto Alegre’s large rural area, Caminhos Rurais, or Rural Paths, is a collection of small properties offering ecotourism experiences such as organic wine tasting.
This Neo-Classical building was designed as a hotel in 1923. For many years, it was also the home of Mário Quintana, one of the state’s foremost poets. Today, it hosts a range of attractions including cinema, theater, and exhibitions relating to art and literature.
This memorial houses exhibits relating to the state’s political and social history, the state archives, and an interesting oral history center.
This vibrant arts complex features an impressive repertoire of music, cinema, and art exhibitions. The Neo-Classical building originally served as a bank in 1927–1932. Despite extensive renovations, it retains many of its original features including stained-glass windows.
t A sweeping staircase within the Santander Cultural arts complex
This weekly cultural fair has 300 stalls selling food, crafts, jewelry, and antiques, and features live arts performances.
At one of Latin America’s largest science museums visitors can interact with more than 800 experiments and observe marine life in 30 aquariums.