Porto Alegre is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Porto Alegre is one of the main cultural, political and economic centers of Brazil.
The city of Porto Alegre was founded in 1772 by Portuguese Azorean immigrants.
Over the following centuries, it welcomed immigrants from all over the world, particularly Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Africans, Poles and Lebanese, Catholics, Jews, Protestants and Muslims. The vast majority of the population is of European origin.
The city lies on the eastern bank of the Guaíba River, where five rivers converge to form Lagoa dos Patos, a giant freshwater lagoon navigable even by the largest of the ships. This junction of five rivers has become an important alluvial port, the largest industrial and commercial center in Brazil.
A gateway to tourists in the state and only 120 kilometers from the pleasant Serra Gaúcha, Porto Alegre is a busy hub for quality services and infrastructure, a base of large national and international companies and one of the main destinations for events in Brazil.

---

The southernmost state capital of Brazil, it still preserves the ares and traditions of a small city, not wanting to wander through the parks Sunday morning, prepare a good barbecue or delight in a chimarrão with the neighbor
Parque da Redenção is the meeting point for locals and tourists to start visiting so many interesting parks and cultural buildings in the city, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, Júlio de Castilhos Museum, Largo Glênio Peres, the charming cottage of the Square XV, the Talavera de la Reina Fountain, the City Hall and the Municipal Public Market and the Farroupilha Park.
In Porto Alegre, the almost sung speech of the gauchos is able to delight those who are not accustomed or who loves to hear the accents of the four corners of Brazil.
With a European air and even more climate, in the city today the cafes proliferate - great places to be able to rest of the wanderings by the Center.
For those who have little time in the capital, the tip is to embark on the Tourism Line. The double-decker buses make two road maps that give a general idea of ​​the city. More touristy, the Traditional line runs through the Historic Center, parks and environs of Guaíba to the Iberê Camargo Foundation. This itinerary allows the passenger to board and disembark in five points of the route to know in more detail the places and services of the districts covered. The city tour Zona Sul is a journey without stops, and the main attractions are the natural landscapes of the city. The highlights are Ipanema beach, some properties of the tourist route Rural Paths of Porto Alegre and the Sanctuary Nossa Senhora Mãe de Deus, which from the top of Morro da Pedra Redonda allows a 360 degree view of the city. The service runs from Tuesday to Sunday.

---

Because of the city's diverse cultural heritage, it is possible to find a wide variety of culinary options, such as German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish dishes, served in restaurants throughout the city.
Undoubtedly, it is worth visiting some of the many international restaurants in Porto Alegre, where you are impressed with the creations of the chefs and the excellent European wines that many of these establishments offer.
The most authentic experience of Brazil in Porto Alegre, is the famous "Churrasco".
This consists of the superior cuts of meat of the cattle raised in the "pampas," which are fertile prairies covering most of the great state of Rio Grande do Sul.
National dishes and drinks from Brazil, such as Feijoada (stew with beans and pork) and the delicious Caipirinha (a strong cocktail made with cachaça, distilled cane brandy) are also part of the typical cuisine of Porto Alegre.
Due to the extraordinary quality of the meat produced and sold in the area, you can enter any restaurant, marked with the sign of "Churrascaria" and know that you are about to eat a fantastic meal. Make sure you have a good appetite when visiting a steakhouse because there are so many delicious meats that will want to try them all!
According to locals, the best meat is the prime rib, but the barbecue can be made with sheep's meat.
Already consumed by the Tupi-Guarani Indians, the mate herb came to be condemned by the Jesuits. Today is a gaucho's habit. Even in Porto Alegre, it is common to see men with gourds, bombs and thermal bottles with warm waters to taste the unsweetened mate herb - traditional chimarrão. To know more about this culture, just visit the Public Market. In the stands you will find the different types of grass and the utensils to prepare it.

---

Porto-Alegre has a humid subtropical climate, which is light, with no dry season, constantly humid (year-round rains), hot summers and moderate seasonality.
Temperatures are much milder in Porto Alegre than in the rest of the Brazilian capitals, with an annual average of 19.5º C and rigorous winters with historical records of snow and temperatures below zero.
However, the four seasons are well defined, and during the summer the temperature can easily pass from 35 ° C.
Total annual averages of precipitation 1,347.4 millimeters (53 in).
Averages for 1443 h.

---