Caxias do Sul

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.
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.
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.

Caxias do Sul is 128 km from Porto Alegre.

By plane

Aeroporto Hugo Cantergiani

There are flights into and out of Caxias do Sul via São Paulo airports ( and ), Curitiba () and Campinas (). Many travelers simply fly into Porto Alegre's airport () and get a comfortable executive bus to Caxias do Sul which is only two hours away. Compare fares to both airports.
Airlines serving Caxias do Sul include:

• Azul

  phone: +55 11 4003-3255

• GOLIf you prefer not to call, you can chat with an agent in Portuguese or English on the website.

By bus

Estação Rodoviária de Caxias do Sul (Intercity bus station)

Comfortable and air-conditioned executive coaches are available from Porto Alegre and many other cities throughout Rio Grande do Sul state to Caxias do Sul. The bus station has a snack bar, shops with newspapers, magazines, and souvenirs. It also has a baggage storage services (guarda volumes, located in Sector 6, west side of the station) if you plan on just visiting town while waiting for another bus. Most travelers coming from the metropolitan Porto Alegre region will take the CAXIENSE busline to Caxias do Sul. If traveling to Caxias do Sul from another area, check the bus station website where you can check schedules, verify bus fare, and even purchase tickets (although a CPF, Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas, or Natural Persons Register Number is necessary). Most foreigners simply show up at the time of travel and purchase a ticket. In general, there are vacancies on the buses if you're not traveling during a holiday.
Intercity buslines that operate at the Caxias do Sul intercity bus station:

• Caxiense Express

  phone: +55 54 3211-8300

• Unesul

  phone: +55 51 3375-9000

• Citral

  phone: +55 54 3228-5430

• Bento Transportes

  phone: +55 54 3452-2977

• Ozelame

  phone: +55 54 3228-4088

• São Marcos

  phone: +55 54 3229-4511

• Planalto

• Santa Cruz

  phone: +55 51 3719-9200

• São João

  phone: +55 51 3722-9700
  Infrequent trips to southern Rio Grande do Sul cities such as Santana do Livramento.

By car

BR-116 North (Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul). If you plan on driving throughout the Serra Gaúcha, you may find better rental prices in Porto Alegre than in Caxias do Sul. Compare the rental prices at the Porto Alegre Salgado Filho airport.

By taxi

Taxi service in Caxias do Sul is very reliable. You will nearly always get a taxi from a taxi queue instead of hailing one off of the street. Use usual precautions and make sure that you know what the starting fare should be before getting into the taxi and which flag or "bandeira" should be used for that time of day. If the taximeter starts running before your driver even starts the trip, ask him or her to zero out the taximeter (zerar o taxímetro). Normal working days during working hours are "bandeira 1" which is less expensive.

By bus

• VISATE (Viação Santa Tereza de Caxias do Sul)

  phone: +55 54 3215-8000
  Municipal bus service is provided by VISATE. Most bus routes that pass through the center of the city have the subdivision (bairro) name in the name of the route. It's best to have a map of the city and it's subdivisions if planning a trip. The VISATE site has a list of all routes and maps as well.

By car

There are a couple of places to rent a car if you're planning on seeing points outside of the center of the city or if you plan to travel throughout the Serra Gaúcha.

• Localiza Rent a Car
• Yes Renta a Car
• Hertz
• City Rent a Car

• Museu Casa de Pedra

  address: Rua Matheo Gianella, 531
  Built in 1878 by the Lucchese family, houses objects, furniture and utensils used by immigrants at the time of colonization. Considered a Living Museum in Latin America.

• São Pelegrino Church

  phone: +55 54 3221-2567
  address: Av. Itália, 54, B. São Pelegrino
  Catholic cathedral which houses works by Italian-Brazilian artist Aldo Locatelli. In the lobby, there's a replica of the Pieta of Michelangelo, a gift from Pope Paul VI by occasion of the Centennial of the Italian Immigration. The high relief bronze doors show epic scenes of colonization times, and were created by artist August Murer.

• Replica of historic Caxias do Sul

  address: Rua Ludovico Cavinatto, 1431
  Architectural complex of 15 wooden houses, including a church and a bandstand, obeying strictly the standards prevailing at the time (1885), and reproducing the Julio de Castilhos Avenue.

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Caxias do Sul

  phone: +55 54 3221-2564
  address: Rua Sinimbu 1976-2108
  Inspired by the Basilica of St. Anthony in Bologna, was built in the Italian Gothic style, presenting ten altars: the main one and nine lateral ones.

• Municipal Museum

  phone: +55 54 3221-2423
  address: Rua Visconde de Pelotas, 586 - Centro
  The collection consists of pieces for the everyday life of settlers in the region, mostly Italian immigrants and acculturation with other neighboring groups. The museum functions as memory center of the city.

• Monumento Nacional ao Imigrante (National Monument to the Immigrant)Inaugurated in 1954, the monument celebrates the immigrants to the Brazilian nation, specifically, Italian immigrants in southern Brazil like those in Caxias do Sul. Parking is available.

• Museu de Uva e Vinho Primo Slomp (Museum of Grapes and Wine)

  address: Rua Luiz Franciosi Sério, 350 Bairro Forqueta

• Belvedere da Cascata Véu da Noiva (Bridal Veil Falls outlook) in Galópolis

• Castelo Lacave winery

  phone: +55 54 4009-4822
  address: BR 116 - Km 143
  The castle was built by Uruguayan businessman Juan Carrau from 1968-1978 in the style of an 11th century medieval castle and functions as an active winery. You can take a tour, sample wine or grape juice and eat at the restaurant located in the complex.

• Marcopolo Bus factory

  phone: +55 54 2101-4000
  address: Av. Rio Branco, 4889 - Bairro Ana Rech
  Tour the Marcopolo Bus Factory, one of the largest bus companies in the world.

• Festa da Uva (GrapeFest - occurs ever even-numbered year in February/March)

  address: R. Ludovico Cavinatto, 1431
  This biennial agricultural convention celebrates everything from this Italian region of southern Brazil.

• Alameda Pizzeria

  phone: +55 54 3211-0102, +55 54 32113694
  address: Rua Matteo Gianella, 1440

• Churrascaria Gaudério

  phone: +55 54 3225-1466
  address: Rua Mário de Boni, 1766

• Cantina Pão e Vinho

  phone: +55 54 3211-2500, +55 54 9917-8676
  address: Rua Ludovico Cavinatto, 1757

• Chateau Lacave

  phone: +55 54 4009-4800, +55 54 4009-4822
  address: BR 116, Km 143, s/nº

Bars

• La Barra

Electronic music venues

• Havana Café

• Voice Club Bistrô

• Pepsi Club

Country music venues

• Arena Country Bar

Traditional gaucho venues

• Paiol Espaço Nativo

Budget

• Bandeira Hotel

  phone: +55 54 3221-1657, +55 54 3214-5155

• Coophotel

  phone: +55 54 3209-8600
  address: Rua Sinimbu, 2266

• Hotel Pousada Caxiense

  phone: +55 54 3229-3155

Mid-range

• Bela Vista Parque Hotel

  phone: +55 54 3283-1177

• Bergson Flat Aspen

  phone: +55 54 3214-1122
  address: 18 do Forte, 1818 - Centro
  A very attractive and modern hotel.

• Ibis Caxias do Sul

  phone: +55 54 3209-5555
  address: Rua João Nichelle 2335 - Sanvitto II
  Ibis is a discount French chain hotel with very adequate accommodations. The hotel is outside of the city center, so you should plan on public transit, taxi or car to reach the center from this point.

• Norton Executive Hotel

  phone: +55 54 3535-3434
  address: Rua Ernesto Alves, 2083 - Centro
  A modern and well appointed hotel in the center of the city. This is probably the best value in the city if you're looking for modern, clean and inexpensive. It is very similar to the Bergson Flat without the expense.

• Volpiano Hotel

  phone: +55 54 3223-9944

Splurge

• Blue Tree Towers Caxias do Sul

  phone: +55 54 3224-9000
  address: Rua Pinheiro Machado, 2867 - Pelegrino

• Cosmos Hotel

  phone: +55 54 2101-7777
  address: R. Vinte de Setembro,1563, Centro

• Hotel Intercity Premium

  phone: +55 54 3026-1000
  address: Av. Terezinha Pauletti Sanvitto, 333, Desvio Rizzo

• Mercure

  phone: +55 54 2108-5000
  address: R. Os Dezoito do Forte, 1934, Centro

• Personal Royal Hotel

  phone: +55 54 3289-2000
  address: Rua Garibaldi, 153 - Pio X

• Samuara Parque Hotel

  phone: +55 54 3028-2222, +55 54 3026-3000
  address: RS-122, km 69, 2505, Desvio Rizzo

• Bento Gonçalves - The Wine Capital of Brazil.
• Gramado - A German-themed tourist city on the Rota Romântica (Romantic Route).
• Canela - Gramado's sister city. There are plenty of eco-tourism opportunities here (river rafting, hang gliding, hiking) and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state at the Parque do Caracol.