Caxias do Sul

Submitted by editor on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 00:48

Caxias do Sul

Caxias do Sul
City of Caxias do Sul

Seal
Nickname(s): Pearl of the Colonies
Location of Caxias do Sul
Country Brazil Brazil
Region South
State Rio Grande do Sul
Founded June 20, 1890
Government
 - Mayor José Ivo Sartori (PMDB)
Area
 - Total 1.643 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Elevation 817 m (2,680 ft)
Population (2007)
 - Total 427.858
 - Density 250/km2 (647.5/sq mi)
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 suw]) 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.

Contents

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

The University of Caxias do Sul was founded in 1976, a systematical center for culture.

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, “the capital of the mountains”, “pearl of the colonies”, “hive of work”, is considered the center of the Italian presence in Southern Brazil.

Population growth

The following table shows the development of the number of inhabitants according to census data of IBGE.

Year Inhabitants
1994 307,921
1995 315,540
1996 325,694
1997 341,978
1998 349,581
1999 359,077
2000 360,419
2004 396,419
2005 404,187
2006 412,053
2007 419,852
2008 427.858
Panoramic View of Caxias do Sul Morro once you have the Grape Festival.

Climate

Caxias do Sul
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
145
 
26
17
 
 
152
 
26
17
 
 
206
 
24
16
 
 
132
 
22
12
 
 
109
 
19
11
 
 
152
 
17
8
 
 
155
 
17
8
 
 
178
 
18
9
 
 
203
 
19
10
 
 
173
 
21
12
 
 
140
 
23
13
 
 
170
 
26
15
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [1] br.weather
Imperial conversion
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
5.7
 
79
63
 
 
6
 
79
63
 
 
8.1
 
75
61
 
 
5.2
 
72
54
 
 
4.3
 
66
52
 
 
6
 
63
46
 
 
6.1
 
63
46
 
 
7
 
64
48
 
 
8
 
66
50
 
 
6.8
 
70
54
 
 
5.5
 
73
55
 
 
6.7
 
79
59
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

The city is located in the mountains of the Serra Gaucha, 760 m (about 2000 feet) above sea level. Under the Koppen climate classification, Caxias do Sul features a subtropical highland 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. Frosts are common in the winter and snow can occur, but it is less common.

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. Some of these companies are:

  • Marcopolo (buses and truck frames, present in six countries)
Main article: Marcopolo S.A.
  • 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;
  • 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;
  • Florense based in Flores da Cunha, (furniture, tailor-made kitchen cabinets) among others and several textile factories and wineries.
  • 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

University of Caxias do Sul.

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.

Colleges and universities

  • Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS);
  • Faculdade da Serra Gaúcha (FSG);
  • Faculdade de Tecnologia (FTEC);
  • Faculdade Anglo-Americano;
  • and others..

Culture

City Museum.
Grapes.
House of 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 collection of images of the old city and in the field of portrait.

As of historical architecture, one may find a few eclectic houses built for rich families, public buildings and neogothic 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.

The city nowadays has many intensely active museums and cultural centers, both private and official, and a great university which sponsors an art gallery, a museum, a huge library and a symphonic orchestra.

Tourism and recreation

The Brazilian president with the sovereigns at Festa da Uva on February 2006.

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.

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). 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.

Caxias do Sul is served by Hugo Cantergiani Airport, formerly called Campo dos Bugres Airport.

Azul Brazilian Airlines offer for its passengers free bus transfers between Caxias do Sul and Porto Alegre-Salgado Filho International Airport at regular times.

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 2000 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

  • Called Monumento ao Imigrante, was made with stones in 1950 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Italian colonization

  • São Pelegrino's Church has the most important masterworks of the Italian painter Aldo Locatelli. Its bronze front doors were sculpted in Italy

  • Château Lacave during the summer in Caxias

  • The tallest building in the city and also in the state called Parque do Sol

  • Bishop's Palace

  • Getúlio Vargas Park is the largest urban park in the city

  • The City Hall of Caxias do Sul

  • 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

  • The main street which provides the entrance to University of Caxias do Sul.

  • Families playing at the university on the weekend

  • The Chamber of Councilors

  • Panoramic view of the city

  1. ^ Prefeitura Municipal de Caxias do Sul - RS
  2. ^ "Ônibus Executivo/Caxias do Sul" (in Portuguese). Azul Brazilian Airlines. http://www.voeazul.com.br/aspx/servicoOnibusCaxiasDoSul.aspx. Retrieved 27 March 2011. 
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