Understand
Porto Alegre is the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul and the biggest urban agglomeration of south Brazil. It is important to understand that the culture of the city isn't a "Brazilian culture", but almost an Argentinian or Uruguayan. These people are called "gaúchos", the same word that identify Argentina and Uruguay. So, this can be bad if you are searching for a typical Brazilian city, but it can be good if you speak Spanish, because the locals typically understand the language well. The perfect blend of Brazilian-Portuguese and Platinian-Spanish cultures, added to a strong European heritage gives the city a unique background within Brazil. The city is one of the richest metropolis in the country, the state capital with the highest life quality and literacy rate (97%), the book capital of Brazil, and is widely known in Brazil as the city with the most beautiful women in the country.
The gaúchos are very proud of their land and culture. In 1835 a revolution which declared Rio Grande do Sul independent from Brazil ecloded, the most significant national conflict of the Brazilian Empire (1822-1889), named the Farroupilha Revolution or Farrapos War. This war wreaked havoc across the entire state during 10 bloody years, killing nearly 20% of the gaúchos and ultimately leading to a peace treaty where the Republica Riograndense once again became part of Brazil. Another major Brazilian revolution also began in Rio Grande do Sul. The Federalist Revolution of 1893 defended the decentralization of powers and greater autonomy for the states, and only finished in 1895, after spreading to two other states. It was also in Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre) where the 1930 Revolution which overthrew the president Washington Luis began, and so was from Rio Grande do Sul the most important Brazilian communist revolutionary of all times: Luis Carlos Prestes, who led the nation-wide communist upheaval in 1935. For such reasons, among many others, the Gaúchos (Riograndenses) are particularly proud of their mother state, many considering themselves as gauchos rather than Brazilians.
Currently, Porto Alegre is a service centered city in between the industrial part of the state (north-east) and the rural part (south). It is also called the "Mercosul Capital".
Getting in
By plane
Porto Alegre's international airport is Salgado Filho (POA), located 4.3 miles (7km) from downtown. It's served by all major Brazilian airlines (VARIG, TAM, GOL, BRA, Webjet) and some foreign ones (AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS, OCEANAIR, PLUNA, UAIR). There is a train station (known as trensurb by locals) and bus stops near the airport. However, it is recommended to take a cab ("taxi" for locals) in order to leave the airport, because the nearby trensurb station is not exactly close to the airport facility and the available buses don't take you downtown and the cab rides are not very expensive.
The airport facility is modern (built in 2001) and has a shopping-like structure, with restaurants, shops and even movie theaters.
By car
Porto Alegre is served by two major highways: BR-116, crossing it North-South and BR-290, crossing it East-West. The first can be used to visit destinations like Gramado and Canela (both North); the latter gives access to/from Rio Grande do Sul's litoral (East) and to/from Argentina (West).
Be advised that some of these roads are dangerous, for they have poor signaling/conditions and lots of trucks. Keep your travels by car on these roads to the duplicated ones and, if possible, during the day.
By bus
The long distance bus station ("rodoviária") is located downtown and is served by several national and international lines (UNESUL, TTL, EGA, PLUMA, FLECHABUS, CHILEBUS). It is also connected to a trensurb station and several municipal bus lines.
Get around
The local bus system is widely spread, but hard to understand if you are not a local. The lines connect, in most of the cases, the neighborhoods to downtown. There are no maps available, neither signs and schedules at the bus stops. The best way to find out a certain line or route is to ask people at the stops or bus drivers. That's what local people do when they don't know which bus to take. But don´t worry, because the buses are clean, safe and fast.
There are plenty of taxis. They can be pricey, if compared to other towns, but they are also an easier and safer option to buses.
Walking around is a reasonable idea only downtown, not to other parts of the city, which can be very far. Walking during the night
in downtown or even in other parts of city can be dangerous. During the day, it is recommended to pay attention to
other people to avoid problems. Avoid parks at night. Porto Alegre is a dangerous city at global levels, but a very safe big city in Brazil levels.
See
Do
Buy
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Probably the most touristic aspect of Porto Alegre is the city's night life. There are 3 neighborhoods full of bars and places to dance.
; Cidade Baixa: The corner of Gal Lima e Silva Street and República Street is the center of the neighboorhood's nightlife. In the weekends, the streets get crowded with people drinking and having a good time. Cavanhas, Pingüim, Copão, Cotiporã, Panorama (cheapeast beer) are some of the bars where you can drink beer and have some french fries. To dance MPB (Brazilian popular music), historical street João Alfredo has many excellent options.
; Calçada da Fama: Padre Chagas Street is full of more fashionable bars, like Lilliput and Dado Pub.
; Goethe: Goethe Avenue has bars (Tri Bar, Arsenal, Dolphin's), a great hotdog called 'Bagé Dog' and discos, like Manara.
There are other bars in the city:
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay safe
Be aware when walking around downtown, specifically on Rua dos Andradas (commonly known as Rua da Praia), during daylight, pickpockets may wander about. Nightlife at Cidade Baixa might be dangerous as well. Be aware of possible robbery and auto theft.
Porto Alegre (lit. "Joyous Port"), one of the largest cities in Brazil, is the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre is the most important city of Southern Brazil, consisting of a cultural, political and economical center. Porto Alegre held the best standard of living among all Brazilian capitals for many years and it was the only Brazilian city listed on Jones Lang LaSalle's World Winning Cities. It's also the home of famous football clubs Grêmio and Internacional.
Geography, History and Culture
The city is located at a delta resulting from the junction of five rivers, officially called Guaíba Lake (popularly mentioned as a river too). Although its origins date from the mid-18th century, when immigrants from the Azores settled in the area, the city was officially established in 1809.
Before this, Porto Alegre was the port of Viamão on the shore of Guaíba Lake. Its ancient name was Porto dos Casais (Port of the couples), and it was initially settled by Azorians. Many families of settlers also came from the city of Rio Grande (Big River) in the litoral Lagunar region, to the south, a military fortress at that time. Today Rio Grande is the most important port of Rio Grande do Sul state.
More than 70 neighborhoods (see below) are part of the city and 2/3 of the population are concentrated in the Zona Norte (Northern Zone), where most of the economic activity, including the city center, takes place.
Porto Alegre was the seat of the World Social Forum in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005.
Porto Alegre, the second largest city in southern Brazil, holds also with its surrounding cities the most important industrial center in the mentioned geographical area. Considering a potential great economical growth in South America within the next few decades BRIC, Porto Alegre could take special advantage on the process due to the clear benefit as a geographical positioned mid-link between São Paulo/Rio and Buenos Aires/Montevideo. It could pretty much work like a key to the Mercosul.
It also is a center for gaúcho (the popular name for natives of the State) history and culture, famous for its churrasco (barbecue) and chimarrão (a strong and hot tea prepared from erva mate). Several important Brazilian universities, such as UFRGS (among the five best evaluated in the country) and PUCRS are located there.
The Terceira Perimetral (Third Perimetral), the largest road work ever done in the city, was built between 1999 and 2006. The Terceira Perimetral is a 12 km long road, connecting the northern and the southern sectors of the city, without passing through the city center.
Porto Alegre is also one of the wealthiest cities in Latin America, and one of the most diverse. It has welcomed immigrants from all over the world, the largest numbers coming from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. The are also significant Arab, Jewish and Afro-Brazilian contingents in the population.
Porto Alegre is undoubtedly the local capital city which most took after Europe in Brazil rather than its other various roots. It is part of a transitional area culturally influenced by both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro; as well as Buenos Aires. Examples of both tendencies are visible through the openness in facing social needs such as the emerging gay rights and receptiveness to world social events. It holds a noticeable advantage over other Brazilian cities on aspects such as literacy, number of books read per year, wealth distribuition and longevity rates. The average Porto Alegrense is also seen as very politicized when compared to people from other parts of the country.
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods of Porto Alegre are geographical divisions of the city. There is no devolution of administrative powers to neighborhoods, although there are several neighborhoods associations devoted to improve their own standards of living. Porto Alegre keeps nowadays 78 official distinguished neighborhoods and 4 unnamed territories: Aberta dos Morros, Chapéu do Sol, Morro Santana and Passo das Pedras.
Climate
Porto Alegre is located in the subtropical area and so is called its climate. Average precipitation is high and regular throughout the year. Summer temperatures only occasionally rise above 32°C (90° F), although high levels of humidity make the season very muggy. The highest temperature ever registered was 40.7°C (105° F) in January 1943. The winter reveals mild average temperatures, contrasting to the quite changeable, and many times sudden behavioral, windy and rainy weather which also characterizes this time of the year. Usual winter temperatures range from 5 ºC to 25 ºC. Snow is very rare, sometimes confused with sleet. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -4 °C in July 1918. Autumns tend to be as changeable as winters, but are typically warmer. Spring, stabler akin to summer, is slightly drier than all the other seasons. Occurrence of radiation fog is common, causing several delays in early flights.
Sister Cities
The Sister Cities of Porto Alegre are:
Famous people related to Porto Alegre
Pictures of Porto Alegre
Image:Porto Alegre Guaiba River by kafffka.jpg|Porto Alegre and the Guaíba Lake
Image:Brique da Redenção.JPG|Brique da Redenção (Flea Market)
Image:Usina do Gasômetro.JPG|Usina do Gasômetro (literally Gasometer Plant)
Image:Auditório Araújo Viana.JPG|Araújo Viana Auditorium
Image:Lacador.JPG|Laçador Statue
Image:Igreja da Dores.JPG|Nossa Sra. das Dores Church
Image:Brazil Porto Alegre Temple.jpg|Porto Alegre LDS Temple
Image:White chapel in Porto Alegre.jpg|Lutheran Church in Porto Alegre
Image:Biblioteca Pública de Porto Alegre.JPG|Public library of Porto Alegre
Image:Porto Alegre sunset.jpg|Sunset over Porto Alegre
Image:POA_vista_do_guaiba.jpg|panormic view of Porto Alegre
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