Monday, 3 September 2012 - 01:30 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: South America / Südamerika Category/Kategorie: GeneralReading Time: 4minutes
Porto Alegre (Merry Harbour) is the capital and largest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city population is 1,509,939 inhabitants, the tenth most populous city in the country and the centre of Brazil’s fourth largest metropolitan area, with 4,405,760 inhabitants. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian state. Porto Alegre is one of the top cultural, political and economic centers of Brazil. Porto Alegre was founded in 1772 by immigrants from the Azores. In the late 19th century the city received many immigrants from other parts of the world, particularly Germany, Italy, and Poland. The vast majority of the population is of European descent.
The city lies on the eastern bank of the Rio Guaiba (Guaiba Lake), where five rivers converge to form the Lagoa dos Patos (Lagoon of the Ducks), a giant freshwater lagoon navigable by even the largest of ships. This five-river junction has become an important alluvial port as well as a chief industrial and commercial center of Brazil.
A wide range of cultural events are held in Porto Alegre. In addition to the traditional celebrations, a wide variety of activities are organized at Porto Alegre during the different seasons.
Porto Alegre is well known in Brazil for its diverse nightlife. The city’s clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants provide entertainment for a wide range of tastes and budgets, going from the cheap, traditional beer-‘n-bite in a corner bar to all-night raves, and classy nightclubs. The nightlife here is similar to that of New York City, but on a micro-scale. In the “SoHo” area of Porto Alegre, there is a block full of great bars, restaurants and clubs.
Bars, some with live music and most with a predominantly young and trendy clientele, are spread out along, and just off, alongside the Parque Farroupilha and near the Federal University. Throughout the year, Porto Alegre’s numerous Centros de Tradição Gaúcha organize traditional meals, music and dance performances. Tourist offices have only limited information on the events, but full details are available from the Movimento Tradicionalista Gaúcho.
The Porto Alegre Carnival began in the 18th century with the entrudo, a prank brought over by the Portuguese from the Azores, whereby people threw flour, water, and “limão de cheiro” missiles at each other. At the end of the 19th century, two important Carnival associations were born. Rivalry between the two long dominated the city’s Carnival. The corso, a parade of floats down Porto Alegre’s streets, was a celebration enjoyed by the more well-to-do of the city’s inhabitants. One of the most important Carnival personalities is King Momo. At the beginning of Carnival, usually in February, he receives the keys to the city from the Mayor of Porto Alegre, symbolically governing the Carnival during the four days of revelry. Vincente Rao was the most popular King Momo.
