Porto Alegre Tourism -- a Major Source of the National Economy

Added: 05/05/2006

One of Brazil's largest cities and the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul State, Porto Alegre is situated at the conjunction of five rivers, the Guaiba Lake among them. Despite the fact that its origins date back to the 1700s, the city was established in 1809. Currently Porto Alegre is recognized as the most important industrial center in southern part of the country, as well as a major city for Mercosul. It is also home to several renowned Brazilian institutions of higher learning, cultural attractions and historic landmarks.

Composed of over 70 neighborhoods, the vast majority of Porto Alegre's population is concentrated in the city's Zona Norte, where the city center and most of the economic activity is located. Due to its strategic position, the city is regarded as an important shopping destination for international businessmen and travelers alike in the southern part of South America. Porto Alegre is also considered one of Latin America's wealthiest cities, which has harbored immigrants from across the world, with the largest numbers of them coming from Spain, Germany, Italy and Portugal.

The privileged location of the city has contributed much to the development of Porto Alegre tourism that is currently showing significant signs of prosperous growth. The city is the geographical center of the major Southern Cone's routes, in addition to being conveniently located from Montevideo and Buenos Aires, as well as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Whenever you happen to arrive in the city, you are sure to meet an important business center and a getaway to the most popular attractions of the region. Porto Alegre travels will introduce you to perennial vegetation, beautiful ponds and hills, as well as well-preserved historic buildings sheltering memories and culture.

Such is the city of Porto Alegre - a well-balanced and enchanting mix of past and present embodied in the architecture and history, culture and entertainment. A rapid development of Porto Alegre tourism entailed the establishment of new airport that opened in 2001, more than 6,000 beds in 33 well-favored hotels as the invitation for comfortable and memorable stay, and a number of cultural and entertainment venues. As of 2000, the city ranked fourth among Brazilian destinations for the number of international tourists, which means Porto Alegre tourism is still one of the most important and influential sectors of national economy.

The city of contrasts, Porto Alegre plays host to a number of international events, notably both editions of the World Social Forum. The city is cosmopolitan in many ways, offering lots of history and culture, shopping and gastronomic options among others. Recognized as the city with the most noticeable European influence in Brazil, it boasts an attractive international gastronomy, with the restaurants specializing in many different cuisines and offering pizzas, fast snacks, coffee and sweets of most diverse types.

Porto Alegre tourism owes much of its flourishing to such renowned attractions as Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana, where Mario Quintana, the famous Brazilian poet lived for years; Sao Pedro Theater, situated in front of Matriz Square and regarded as one of the most spectacular constructions in Brazil; Memorial do Rio Grande do Sul, whose documents, objects, photos, maps and books are related to the history of Rio Grande do Sul; Ado Malogoli Art Museum of Rio Grande do Sul which has works of art from Di Cavalcanti, Pedro Weingarner, Lasar Segall and Candido Portinari; Usina do Gasometro established in 1928 as a coal power plant and changed into a cultural center in the 1980s; and more.

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