Centro Histórico

The name - happy port - sounds like a promise and indeed, Puerto Alegre is one of the most dynamic cities in Brazil, quite different from the cosmopolitan beach destinations the country is famous for. The state of Rio Grande do Sul was colonised mainly by Italians and Germans, so people are mostly white, and the city is in many ways quite European. If you want to take a tour of the historical part of the city, I recommend visiting the Central Market, a neoclassical nineteen century building with shops of all kinds, restaurants and bars. Glênio Peres Square, next to the market, is always full of people and vendors.