Things to see and do Rio Grande Do Sul

Alvaro Siza's building on the banks of the Guaiba River is worth the trip all by itself! The foundation of the gaucho artist Iberê Camargo settled in 2008 in this new white and refined building in the style so characteristic of the School of Porto. Inside (equally impressive) are the artist's paintings, drawings and other works as well as major temporary exhibitions. This museum of the Iberê Camargo Foundation is undoubtedly one of the most interesting art museums in the country.

It's one of the postcards from Porto Alegre. This space was of course taken from the industrial wasteland of the city's former gas factory. You can admire the sunset there! It is also a lively place with many cafes, bookstores and cultural spaces. The visit of the gasômetro must be coupled with a tour on the Rio Guaiba aboard the Cisne Branco, a real floating cultural space (visit of the islands and historical commentaries for R$ 45).

A large central park, with a mini zoo, an athletics track, an auditorium.

Saturday, agricultural fair, organic products;

On Sunday (a. m. to p. m.) there is the Brick da Redenção: it is a fair of crafts, antiques where you can find everything. Also music, gastronomy and street theatre. Very popular outings with locals.

The most visited monument in the city and seat of government, the Piratini Palace on the beautiful Praça da Matriz was built in a French-inspired neoclassical style in the 1920s. It was Paul Landowski, the creator of the Corcovado in Rio, who designed the allegorical statues of Agriculture and Industry as well as those of the Primavera in the interior patio. Inside, the paintings of the painter Locatelli contain the history of the state. Of note are the grand French-style marble staircase and the grandiose Salon Negrinho do Pastoreio.

Built around 1905, it is as much a facade as it is a temporary art exhibition. On the façade are the statues of Ceres (goddess of agriculture) and Hermes, under the coat of arms of the Republic. Another allegory is that of the statues representing Industry, Fishing, Navigation and Architecture. Inside the museum the white marble elements, geometric floors in exotic woods, carved stucco ceilings and coloured azulejos. Café and shop on site.

For 40 years, the Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana, in homage to the great gaucho poet, has had a multifaceted mission. This former pink hotel (the former Majestic Hotel) has been transformed into a major cultural center by the government of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is now 12 square meters dedicated to arts and culture. You go there for exhibitions, concerts and shows, but also for its café from where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the city.

To contemplate the local flora in a park of 39 ha.

Interesting, covers all sectors of communication: press, TV, cinema, radio, advertising, disco, more than five thousand 78 towers.

These ruins are part of the "circuit of Jesuit missions", which like the region of Foz do Iguaçu straddles three countries: Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. The ruins of the mission of São Miguel das Missões are remarkable because, although they are in the open air, their ochre sandstone walls are still standing, at least for the most part. The size of this building, built in 1735, is impressive. One can imagine the size of the college, offices and houses that existed here. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the neighboring Argentinean and Paraguayan missions, it is the only Jesuit mission of the Guaraníes that is really worth a visit on the Brazilian side. Built by the Italian Father João Batista Primolli, his plan was to add a second tower as an astronomical observatory, but it was never realized. Inside there is a small and interesting museum with sacred sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries, coming from the different ruins of the missions in the surrounding area, most of them made of painted wood. The place is enchanting, because here you can admire an exuberant nature where the roots of the trees have invaded the stones of the mission, just like in the temples of Angkor Wat. In the evening, you can watch a sound and light show projected on the façade. As an anecdote, the film Mission, directed in 1994 by Quebecer Roland Joffé, with Robert de Niro, deals with the 150-year history of the Jesuit missions of the Guaranis.

Built between 1953 and 1987, this "stone cathedral", also known as Our Lady of Lourdes of Canela, is the city's main attraction. This imposing building in English Gothic style is dominated by a 67-metre high bell tower with a carillon of 12 Italian bronze bells. Inside, the frescoes painted by the gaucho artist Marciano Schmitz represent the Apparition of the Virgin, the Allegory of the Angels and the Annunciation. You can go up to the bell tower to admire the landscape (entrance fee for the bell tower).

It is the unmissable pedestrian street in the centre, a gallery covered by a glass roof with terrace tables for a drink and tempting shop windows for shopping. It is a place where you can feel the energy of Gramado. Located in the heart of the city, it is a space that brings together restaurants, cafes and shops. It is the scene of several cultural presentations and events, including the film festival. It has an atmosphere somewhere between a Barcelona covered market and a Parisian "passage". Louis Aragon would have appreciated it!

The parque do Caracol is a nice park near Canela. The advantage of this regional natural park is that it offers a ride on a small train, a view of a beautiful and imposing waterfall in the middle of nature (almost 150 meters high!), and hiking trails for the more athletic. A 30-metre-high ecological observatory and a glass platform are located near the waterfall for a closer look. An opportunity to spend a pleasant day without making too much physical effort. Ideal for families.

There is no infrastructure in the park to eat or sleep on site. There are however three hikes to choose from during the day, the most popular of which is the Vertice hike (1h) on the vertiginous edges of the 700 meter deep and smooth canyon Itaimbezinho. It is one of the most imposing in America! You can also do the Cotovelo hike (3h walk on the heights) or the Rio do Boi hike (6h walk inside the canyon and on the heights). Guides are available in Cambarà do Sul.

Inside the former headquarters of the National Bank of Commerce, this very active cultural centre offers high-level art exhibitions, an art cinema (located in an old vault!) and also a café (located in the other vault). Works by Miro and Picasso have already been exhibited, but the foundation also aims to promote Brazilian art. For example, a retrospective of the work of Pernambuco sculptor Francisco Brennand and gaucho writer Simoes Lopes Neto showcased local visual and literary arts.

Porto Alegre's Mercado Publico, the city's oldest market, isn't just a market. This handsome 1869 building boasts a beautiful yellow façade and a metal roof inside, where you'll find over 110 stalls of all kinds. It's one of the city's must-visit meeting places. You can buy food, maté, cuia and bomba to prepare your chimarrão at home! For those into local folklore, it's possible to buy typical gaucho clothing.