Porto Alegre (lit. '"Joyful Harbor"') is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Rio
Grande do Sul. Its population of 1,481,019 inhabitants (2016) makes it the twelfth most populous city in the country and
the centre of Brazil's fifth largest metropolitan area, with 4,405,760 inhabitants (2010). The city is the southernmost
capital city of a Brazilian state. The city was founded in 1769 by Manuel Jorge Gomes de Sepúlveda, who used the pseudonym José Marcelino de Figueiredo
to hide his identity; but the official date is 1772 with the act signed by immigrants from the Azores, Portugal. The
vast majority of the population is of European descent.
Its previous name was Porto dos Casais (Port of the Couples), and it was initially settled by Azoreans. Many families of
settlers came from the city of Rio Grande in the littoral Lagunar region, to the south, a military fortress at that
time. The city is also known as "Porto do Sol" (Port of the Sun) and "Cidade Sorriso" (Smile City). More than 70 neighborhoods are part of the
city and two-thirds of the population are concentrated in the Zona Norte (Northern Zone), where most of the economic
activity, including the city center, takes place.
Porto Alegre is well known in Brazil for its diverse nightlife. The city's clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants provide
entertainment for a wide range of tastes and budgets, going from the cheap, traditional beer-'n-bite in a corner bar to
all-night raves, and nightclubs. In the "SoHo" area of Porto Alegre, there is a block full of bars, restaurants and
clubs. The city boasts a popular music scene and a considerable theatrical tradition. Foreign performers of all kinds
usually include Porto Alegre on any Brazilian or wider South American tour. The Sala Jazz Tom Jobim features the
city's best jazz, and there are live afternoon jazz sessions at the Café Concerto (within the Casa de Cultura), which
also has an arthouse cinema. There are three more screens at the Espaço Unibanco (Unibanco Cultural Space), another art
house cinema. Finally, the Centro Cultural Usina do Gasômetro, a converted 1920s power station on the banks of the river
just west of the centre, includes a cinema, theatre and galleries, and it also has a cafe and a bookshop.
Football is a passion of the people from Porto Alegre. There is a big rivalry between two football clubs,
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
, founded in 1903, and
Sport Club Internacional
, founded in 1909. Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto
Alegrense and Sport Club Internacional currently play in the top league in Brazil, the Serie A. Both have successful
histories, having won national and international titles, including the South American top honour, the Copa Libertadores,
and the highest global trophy for football clubs, the Intercontinental Cup, now known as the Club World Cup.
Learn more about Porto Alegre and its charms!
