Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Multicultural Southern Brazil
More than anywhere else in the country,
Southern Brazil has been shaped cul-
turally and economically by immigrants.
Unlike tropical Brazil to the north, this
part was considered unsuitable for
plantation agriculture, and instead
immigrants were recruited for land
colonization schemes. The legacy of its physical
isolation from “mainstream” Brazilian society is
reflected in the languages and cultures of the
immigrants. The architectural heritage has become
increasingly valued, festivals showcase traditional
music and dance, while handicrafts and local
products are sold in villages and on farms.
Pysanky,
Russian
painted egg
An illustration of European immigrants
aboard a ship bound for Brazil
AZOREANS
In the 18th century, Azoreans settled along
the coast of Southern Brazil, bringing with
them fishing, farming, and lace-making
skills. Villages were created, in particular
on the island of Santa Catarina, whose
white-and-blue buildings resemble those
of the Portuguese mid-Atlantic islands.
Azorean lace-making
is one of the
important traditions that have been
maintained by women in villages on
the island of Santa Catarina.
Fishing, the main economic activity of the Azorean
community in Santa Catarina
GERMANS
Germans were the first non-Portuguese immigrants to settle
in Southern Brazil, in the 1850s. They were drawn to the
highlands of Rio Grande do Sul and the river valleys of north-
eastern Santa Catarina. Their dialects and traditions continue
in many rural areas, while German architectural styles are
apparent in cities such as Blumenau and Nova Hamburgo.
Old-world architecture
still dominates in the
areas of Southern Brazil
settled by German
immigrants. Many
buildings are exact
replicas of ones found
in towns in southern
Germany. In the
countryside, distinctive
half-timbered farm-
houses, built by pioneer
immigrants, remain
a common sight.
German-Brazilian celebration of Oktoberfest
