Holiday in Porto Alegre

About Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre is the capital of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and the cultural center of Gaucho culture. The million-strong city on the eastern shore of the Rio Guaiba combines European immigrant history — especially German and Italian roots — with South American temperament and one of the continent's most vibrant football cultures. The Mercado Publico, opened in 1869 and built in neoclassical style, is the gastronomic heart of the city: Over 100 stalls offer fresh seafood, dried meat (Charque), spices, mate tea (Chimarrao), and regional specialties. The market has survived several fires and is considered a cultural heritage of Porto Alegre. The sunset at Guaiba is legendary: From the waterfront park Orla do Guaiba or the historic Gasometer district, one can observe the sun sinking behind the 50 km wide river delta — a daily natural spectacle that the locals, Portoalegrenses, celebrate. The Usina do Gasometro, a former power plant from 1928, is now a cultural center and the best viewpoint. Porto Alegre is the birthplace of Churrasco — the Brazilian grilling art where various cuts of meat are cooked on a skewer over an open fire. The city's churrascarias are considered the most authentic in the country. The rivalry between Gremio and Internacional shapes city life: Derby days (Grenal) are among the most intense football experiences in South America. The old town impresses with a mix of colonial architecture and Art Nouveau, including the Catedral Metropolitana on the Praca da Matriz and the Teatro Sao Pedro. The Cidade Baixa district is the nightlife area with bars, live music, and a thriving cultural scene.