Gramado

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Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul
Skyline of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul
Official seal of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul
Seal
Nickname: Hydrangeas' Garden
Geographical subdivisions of Rio Grande do Sul. Gramado is highlighted with red.
Geographical subdivisions of Rio Grande do Sul. Gramado is highlighted with red.
Coordinates: 29°24′17″S 50°52′35″W / -29.40472, -50.87639
State Rio Grande do Sul
Government
 - Mayor Pedro Bertolucci
Area [1]
 - Total 237 km² (91.5 sq mi)
Elevation 850 m (2,789 ft)
Population (2005)[1]
 - Total 33,278
 - Density 140.4/km² (363.6/sq mi)
Website: www.gramado.rs.gov.br

Gramado is a municipality and small touristic town, southeast of Caxias do Sul and east of Nova Petrópolis in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Serra Gaúcha region. Most of the population of Gramado are of German or Italian descent. Gramado is one of the towns along the scenic route known as Rota Romântica. The town is also part of the scenic Região das Hortênsias route.

Gramado hosts the Festival de Gramado, a major South American film festival and Gramado's most important event. Gramado is also known by hydrangeas blossoming in late spring. Another key event in Gramado is Natal Luz, when Gramado is decked out in lights and wreathes made of recycled material by local residents.

Contents

[edit] History

Gramado was originally settled in 1875 by Portuguese immigrants. Five years later, the first German immigrants arrived and these were followed shortly after by Italian immigrants arriving from the Italian settlements in Caxias do Sul.

In 1913, the town seat was moved to Linha Nova, where now is the town center. At this time, Gramado was an unincorporated township within the municipality of Taquara. Railway arrived in Gramado in 1921, boosting the local economy. Gramado became officially a village in 1937, when Gramado was already known as a summer holiday resort. Gramado became a municipality in 1954.

[edit] Politics and Government

Gramado Government is in a strong mayor-council government model, as set forth by the Brazilian Constitution of 1988. Elections for both mayoral and legislative offices are held every fourth year. The Mayor may seek reelection once, while Councilmen have no restriction on terms they may serve.

[edit] Executive Branch

See also: Mayor of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul

Executive powers are held by the Mayor of Gramado, who appoints a Cabinet, the heads of several municipal bodies and members of the Planning Commission. The current Mayor is Pedro H. Bertolucci (PP) elected in 2004.

[edit] Cabinet Membership

  1. Secretary of Administration: Marcia Masotti;
  2. Secretary of Agriculture: José Branchini;
  3. Secretary of Development: Jaime Schaumlöffel, Undersecretary: Sérgio Prinstrop;
  4. Secretary of Education: Jeferson W Moschen;
  5. Secretary of the Environment:
  6. Secretary of Health: Ubiratã de Oliveira;
  7. Secretary for Housing and Welfare: Iria Pinto;
  8. Secretary of Public Works: Rafel Ronsoni;
  9. Secretary of Finances: João Till;
  10. Secretary of Tourism: Alemir Coletto
  11. Secretary of Urban Planning: Vonei Benetti.

[edit] Legislative Branch

All Legislative powers are vested in the Gramado Town Council. Gramado Town Council is a unicameral, open list, 9-member legislature. Gramado Town Council is seated at Municipal Culture centre and holds weekly sessions, between February and December. The Speaker, Committee chairmen and members are elected every year; the current Speaker of the Council is Jeferson Moschen (Progressive Party).

[edit] Town Council Membership

As of July 22, 2005[2], these are the members of the Gramado Town Council. Next elections are likely to be held in the first Sunday of October, 2008. Members are sorted by political position (Government or Opposition), by party and, by last name:

Government

  • Brazilian Social Democracy Party – PSDB
    1. Jorge Drumm
  • Progressive Party - PP
    1. Ilton Gomes
    2. Leonildo Noel
    3. Camilo Roldo
    4. Rafael Ronsoni, who is also Deputy Speaker of the Council

Opposition

  • Democratic Labour Party – PDT
    1. Ivo Tomazelli
  • Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement – PMDB
    1. Josué Altreiter
    2. Luiz Bolfe
  • Workers’ Party – PT
    1. Gilnei Benetti

[edit] Open spaces

Gramado has several green areas, the most important are Black Lake, Communications Square, Knorr Park, Orchard Park, Major Nicoletti Square and, Roses Square.

[edit] Black Lake

Black Lake
Black Lake

Black Lake (English for Lago Negro) is the most known, visited green area of Gramado. Black Lake was created[3] in 1953 by Leopoldo Rosenfeld on an area it was the biggest woods of the Hydrangeas' Region, this very area had been destroyed by fire in 1942. Black Lake's site was named after Good Rest Valley (Vale do Bom Retiro) before fire.

A creek was dammed up to create[4] an U-shaped lake. Rosenfeld imported from Black Forest in Germany pine seedlings to be planted all over newly-formed lake's rim.

Black Lake is a mile away from Town Hall. There is a boathouse, working daily from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, concession stands and a small craftsmen fair nearby.

[edit] Sister cities

Gramado has 4 sister cities[5]

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b "Gramado." RESUMO ESTATÍSTICO RS - Municípios. Fundação de Economia e Estatística. 9 Sep 2006 <http://www.fee.rs.gov.br/sitefee/pt/content/resumo/pg_municipios_detalhe.php?municipio=Gramado>.
  2. ^ "Câmara Municipal de Gramado." Interlegis. 8 Sep 2006 <http://www.interlegis.gov.br/comunidade/casas_legislativas/municipal/RS/c933>.
  3. ^ "Gramado." BrasilViagem.com. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://www.brasilviagem.com/pontur/?CodAtr=3128>.
  4. ^ Barbosa, Eliane. "Pousadas de Gramado." Jornal da Cidade 21 July 2005. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:xGB5vqnelIwJ:jcnet.uol.com.br/cadernos/detalhe_turismo.php%3Fcodigo%3D54780+gramado+site:jcnet.uol.com.br&hl=pt-BR&gl=br&ct=clnk&cd=1>.
  5. ^ "Prefeito de Gramado viaja ao Espírito Santo." 3 Nov. 2005. Prefeitura de Gramado. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://www.gramado.rs.gov.br/content/view/497/39/>.

[edit] External links

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Cities of the Rota Romântica

Coordinates: 29°24′S, 50°52′W