Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Porto Alegre
1
Founded in 1755 on the right bank of the
Rio Guaiba, Porto Alegre served as a
Portuguese military garrison that guarded
against Spanish encroachment into southern
Brazil. Today, it is Rio Grande do Sul's capital
and an important trading port. The city
boasts some impressive public buildings
and a lively street life. Most sights are
located in the Cidade Baixa (Lower Town)
and Cidade Alta (Upper Town) areas of downtown,
while the best restaurants, bars, and hotels are
increasingly concentrated in the suburbs.
P
Praça da Matriz
Catedral Metropolitana
Tel
(051)
3225 4980.
#
9am-noon & 2:30-
6:30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon Sat.
7
Museu Júlio de Castilhos
Tel
(051)
3221 3959.
#
10am-6pm Tue-Fri.
&
7
Palácio Piratini
Tel
(051)
3210 4100.
#
9-11am & 2-5pm
Mon-Fri.
8
7
Teatro São Pedro
Tel
(051) 3227 5100.
#
noon-6pm
Tue-Fri, 4-6pm Sat-Sun.
8
Detail, Museu
de Arte do Rio
Grande do Sul
Designed by the renowned
Italian architect Giovanni
Giovenale, the 1772
Catedral
Metropolitana
features
graceful classical columns,
geometrically-perfect designs,
and a large hemispherical
dome. The present structure
dates from 1921. There are a
number of fine 19th- and
early 20th-century buildings
around Praça da Matriz.
Just off the square is
the
Museu Júlio de Castilhos
,
with an interesting collection
of artifacts relating to the
region's history. The imposing
Palácio Piratini
, just west of
the cathedral, serves as the
Governor's residence. It was
built in 1909 in a fascinating
mix of Neo-Classical,
Baroque, and Rococo styles.
To the square's north, the
grand Neo-Classical
Teatro
São Pedro
is the city's
prestigious concert and
(
Mercado Público
Praça XV de Novembro.
#
9am-
7pm Mon-Sat.
7
Dating back to 1869, the
Neo-Classical-influenced
Mercado Público has a vast
collection of stalls selling
household goods, fruit, vege-
tables, herbs, wine, meat, and
fish. Characteristic of the
region are the herb stalls
selling
chá mate
(herbal tea)
as well as
bombas
and
cuias
(silver straws and drinking
gourds). Also of interest are
the stalls devoted to
macumba
rituals, a reminder of the
importance of Afro-Brazilian
traditions in a part of the
country associated primarily
with European culture.
Façade of the Mercado Público, an
excellent market for regional items
PORTO ALEGRE CITY CENTER
Casa de Cultura Mário Quintana
9
Catedral Metropolitana
2
Memorial do Rio
Grande do Sul
8
Mercado Público
1
Museu de Arte do Rio
Grande do Sul
6
Museu Júlio de Castilhos
3
Palácio Piratini
4
Santander Cultural
7
Teatro São Pedro
5
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Key to Symbols
see back flap
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp388-9 and pp412-13
