Things to see and do Porto Alegre

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.

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.