Caxias do Sul
| Caxias do Sul | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Nickname(s): Pearl of the Colonies | ||
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  Caxias do Sul | ||
| Coordinates: 29°10′00″S 51°11′00″W / 29.16667°S 51.18333°WCoordinates: 29°10′00″S 51°11′00″W / 29.16667°S 51.18333°W | ||
| Country |
 Brazil | |
| Region | South | |
| State | Rio Grande do Sul | |
| Founded | June 20, 1890 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Alceu Barbosa Velho (PDT) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.643 km2 (0.634 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 817 m (2,680 ft) | |
| Population (2012) | ||
| • Total | 446,911[1] | |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-2 (UTC-2) | |
| Postal Code | 95000-000 | |
| Area code(s) | +55 54 | |
| Website | Caxias, Rio Grande do Sul | |
Caxias do Sul (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaˈʃias du ˈsuw]) is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, situated in the state's mountainous Serra Gaúcha region. Coordinates: 29°10′0″ S, 51°11′0″ W. It was established by Italian immigrants on June 20, 1890. Today it is the second largest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The demonym of the citizens of Caxias do Sul is Caxiense.
History
The history of Caxias do Sul starts before the arrival of the Italians, when the region was being roamed by cattlemen and occupied by Indians. Back then, the region was called "Indians' Field". The Italian immigrants' occupation, mostly farmers from the Veneto region (northern Italy), started taking place in 1875 in Nova Milano. Hence, they were in search of a better place to live. They also met people from Lombardy, Trento, and other places. Although they had gotten some governmental support, such as tools, supplies, and seeds, everything had to be reimbursed.[2][3]
Two years later, the colonial headquarters of the Indians' Field was given the name Caxias Colony. The town was created on July 20, 1890 and acknowledged in the same year, on August 24.[2] Many economic cycles marked the evolution of the city throughout that century. The first one is connected to the most peculiar aspect of its cultural identity: the growth of vines and the production of wine for own consumption at first, and later on, for commercialization.[4]
On June 1, 1910, Caxias do Sul was elevated to the category of city. On the same day, the first train arrived connecting the region to the state capital. Although the immigrants were farmers, many of them used to perform other activities. They settled down, urbanized the region, and started a fast-paced process of industrialization.[5]
In the countryside, subsistence agriculture concentrates on the cultivation of grapes, wheat, and corn. Home-based manufacturing started to emerge and the overproduction was commercialized. Home-based manufacturing and Caxias do Sul evolved from having small home-based workshops to today's big factories, which are known internationally.[4]
Nowadays, Caxias do Sul is an important city, and due to its industrious colonists, is home to vast vineyards, wineries, a varied industrial park, and a rich and dynamic market. Those attributes grant this land great importance, the reason why Caxias do Sul, called "pearl of the colonies", is considered the center of the Italian presence in Southern Brazil.[6][7][8]
Caxias do Sul is today the hub centralizing the region more diverse than Brazil, with its industrious settlers, its vast vineyards, his winery, his varied industrial park and a rich and dynamic trade, which gives the land a further dimension, why Caxias do Sul, the "Pearl of the Colonies", is, by itself, the pole centralizing the Italian brand in southern Brazil.
Population growth
The following table shows the development of the number of inhabitants according to census data of IBGE[citation needed].
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Climate
The city is located in the mountains of the Serra Gaucha, 760 m (about 2000 feet) above sea level.[9] Under the Köppen climate classification, Caxias do Sul features a subtropical highland climate[10] or oceanic temperate climate. The average annual temperature is 16°C (60.8°F). In July, the coldest month, the average high temperature is 17°C (62.6°F) and the average low is 8°C (46.4°F); in January, the hottest, they're 26°C (78.8°F) and 16°C (60.8°F), respectively.[11] Frosts are common in the winter and snow can occur, but it is less common. The last significant snowfall it was in August 2013, when 10–15 cm of snow fell over the city.[9][12]
Economy
In Caxias do Sul, several small, medium, large and multinational companies were founded. The city is recognized as an Entrepreneurial-Exporting Hub in the country.[13][14] Some of these companies are:
- Marcopolo (buses and truck frames, present in six countries)
- Randon S.A. - Implementos e Participações is a mixed holding company, leader of a group of seven companies that employ a workforce of 6,6 thousand employees. They operate in the sectors of road equipment / railway wagons / specialty vehicles/ auto parts/ automotive systems, and services;[15]
- Agrale S/A which owns 4 industrial plants, being the only Brazilian company with 100% national capital making vehicles, tractors and diesel engines;
- Tramontina silverware company based in Carlos Barbosa with plants throughout Brazil;
- Grendene, a manufacturer of shoes based in neighboring Farroupilha;
- Todeschini, a manufacturer of furniture based in nearby Bento Gonçalves, the wine capital of Brazil;
- Hyco Hidrover, a manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders for mobile applications.
The per capita income in Caxias do Sul is one of the highest in Brazil according to IBGE.
Languages
Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. Elderly people can often speak Talian, a regional language based on Venetian but also very much influenced by other Italian dialects and by Portuguese.[16]
Colleges and universities
- Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS);
- Faculdade da Serra Gaúcha (FSG);
- Faculdade de Tecnologia (FTEC);
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS)
- Faculdade Anglo-Americano;
- Anhanguera Faculdades;
- Faculdade América Latina;
- Faculdade dos Imigrantes;
- and smaller HEIs
Culture
Culture in Caxias do Sul was not greatly favoured by the first Italian settlers, as they were mostly involved with survival concerns in an area until then unexplored. In the beginning of the 20th century, however, there was some cultural interest developing, and some sculptors, painters and decorators made a significant career in the city and around, like as Pietro Stangherlin, Francisco Meneguzzo and the Zambelli family. They left the first examples of artworks worth of mention, specially in sacred art and building decoration. Julio Calegari and Ulysses Geremia, both photographers, also deserve close attention for their huge collections of portraits and views of the old city.[17]
As of historical architecture, one may find a few eclectic houses built for rich families, public buildings and Neo-Gothic churches, like as the Cathedral and the Chapel of Santo Sepulcro (Sacred Tomb). The first houses of the immigrants, made of stone, and later traditional wooden buildings, nearly all disappeared as the city developed, but some survive in the rural area, as well as many old chapels.[18] Current laws protect every building older than 50 years, but many have been destroyed or altered, despite official protection.[18][19]
The city nowadays has many intensely active museums and cultural centers, both private and official,[20] and a great university which sponsors an art gallery, a museum, a huge library and a symphonic orchestra.[21][22]
Tourism and recreation
The city has many tourist attractions: museums, churches, culture, music and all types of leisure activities. Nature can be found in the city and the surroundings.[20]
The city also hosts the popular National Grape and Wine Festival, which celebrates the Italian heritage. It's one of the most famous events in the country and it's called Festa da Uva, when lots of merrymaking, wine drinking, grapes and people animate the month of February, every two years (on even-numbered years).[23] Visitors may eat cheese, grapes and various Brazilian wines. Visitors interested in the regions wine can also visit the Château Lacave Castle, a 6th Century-style medieval structure that currently functions as a winery. Caxias do Sul is also one of the four settlements along the beautiful Caminhos da Colônia scenic tourist route in the Serra Gaúcha.[24]
Caxias do Sul is served by Hugo Cantergiani Airport, formerly called Campo dos Bugres Airport.[25]
Soccer teams
Caxias do Sul is home to the S.E.R. Caxias and Juventude soccer clubs. Even though both teams have recently claimed the Campeonato Gaúcho, Juventude has had greater luck at national level, since the team has been in the first division of the Campeonato Brasileiro for over ten years and won the 1999 edition of the Copa do Brasil, while Caxias, as of 2006, plays in the third division. Juventude also has the third biggest population of fans in the state, just behind the two major teams of the state capital city, Porto Alegre.
In the 2010 season, both teams played the Brazilian Third Division. S.E.R. Caxias didn't manage to go forward on the competition after the first group stage.Juventude was relegated and will be part of the Brazilian Fourth Division in 2011.
Gallery
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Called Monumento ao Imigrante, was made with stones in 1950 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Italian colonization
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São Pelegrino's Church has the most important masterworks of the Italian painter Aldo Locatelli. Its bronze front doors were sculpted in Italy
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Château Lacave during the summer in Caxias
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The tallest building in the city and also in the state called Parque do Sol
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Bishop's Palace
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Getúlio Vargas Park is the largest urban park in the city
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The City Hall of Caxias do Sul
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Iguatemi Mall brought a lot of development and new opportunities to the city. Nowadays, he has been surrounded by new neighbourhoods in the part of the city that is growing up faster
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The Chamber of Councilors
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The Brazilian president with the sovereigns at Festa da Uva on February 2006.
References
- ↑ Population in 2012 (Portuguese)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nome. Prefeitura Municipal. Acesso 25 set 2010
- ↑ Giron, Loraine Slomp. Identidade, Trabalho e Turismo. IV SeminTUR – Seminário de Pesquisa em Turismo do MERCOSUL. Caxias do Sul: Universidade de Caxias do Sul, 7 e 8 de Julho de 2006. pp. 3-5
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Giron, pp. 10-12
- ↑ Sales, Fabiana de Lima. O desenvolvimento econômico de Caxias do Sul na perspectiva do acervo do Museu Municipal. Universidade de Caxias do Sul, 2006. p. 2
- ↑ Giron, pp. 12-13
- ↑ Machado, Maria Abel & Herédia, Vania Beatriz Merlotti. "Associação dos Comerciantes: Uma Forma de Organização dos Imigrantes Europeus nas Colônias Agrícolas no Sul do Brasil". In Scripta Nova. Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales. Universidad de Barcelona. Nº 94 (28), 1 de agosto de 2001, pp. 77-80
- ↑ Ribeiro, Cleodes M. P. J. Festa e Identidade: Como se fez a Festa da Uva. Caxias do Sul: UCS, 2002. pp. 137-144.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Beretta, Pier Luigi. Boletim Geográfico 243. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE, 33(243), nov./dez., 1974. pp. 5-10.
- ↑ De Souza, Daniele T. P. et alii. Proposta de um espaço multiuso para a divulgação de estratégias sustentáveis na Serra Gaúcha. Congresso Internacional Sustentabilidade e Habitação de Interesse Social. Porto Alegre, 4 a 7 de maio de 2010. p. 3
- ↑ "Médias e registros - Caxias do Sul, Brasil". The Weather Channel.
- ↑
- ↑ "Caxias do Sul segue com o maior Índice de Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico do RS". Zero Hora, 18/09/2008
- ↑ Hunoff, Roberto. "Economia de Caxias do Sul cresce em 6 meses o que o Brasil projeta para 1 ano". O Caxiense, 5 de agosto de 2010
- ↑ "Empresas Randon conquistam Prêmio Exportação RS". Acionista.com, 22/06/2010
- ↑ Prefeitura Municipal de Caxias do Sul - RS
- ↑ Tedesco, João Carlos. "A Família e a Carreta: as bases da vida nos primórdios da colônia". IN Suliani, Antônio (org). Etnias & carisma: polianteia em homenagem a Rovílio Costa. EDIPUCRS, 2001. pp. 582-586
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "A preservação não recusa o novo". In Boletim Memória. Caxias do Sul: Museu e Arquivo Histórico Municipal, nº4, 1992
- ↑ "Caxias possui 28 bens tombados". Gazeta de Caxias, 03/03/2010
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Apresentação. Secretaria da Cultura
- ↑ Projeto Mostra UCS Campus 8 – Cidade das Artes. UCS, 2004
- ↑ "Música Erudita em especial aos 75 anos do município". O Informante, 10 de Dezembro de 2009
- ↑ Schleder, Adriana. "Festa Nacional da Uva: uma nova identidade?". Curitiba: XXXII Congresso Brasileiro de Ciências da Comunicação, 4 a 7 de setembro de 2009. pp. 1-10
- ↑ "Caxias do Sul abre as porteiras para o turismo rural". Agência Sebrae de Notícias, 3 de Agosto de 2009
- ↑ Aeroportos Rio G. Sul RS. Aeroportos do Brasil.
External links
- City Hall of Caxias do Sul
- Street Map of Caxias do Sul
- Local Newspaper "O Pioneiro" (The Pioneer)
- The University of Caxias do Sul
- Juventude Soccer Club
- S.E.R. Caxias Soccer Club
- Caxias Bus Station and Schedules
- Caxias do Sul Tourist Guide
- Official Festa da Uva Site (The Grape Festival)
- Chateau Lacave Castle
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caxias do Sul. |
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