9 Gaucho tourist and cultural destinations that no traveler should miss

Rio Grande do Sul is a Brazilian state known for its culture and maintenance of traditions, cooking habits and country life that recall the Farrapos War (1835-1845). But the gauchos live not only on customs and cultures. Great tourist itineraries await travelers who want to know this place.

O awesome.club separated some suggestions of places for you to visit in the southern regions of Brazil.

Capital of the state, Porto Alegre is also the largest city in terms of population. With numerous museums and cultural centers, such as MARGS, Casa de Cultura Mário Quintana and Palácio Piratini, the city offers a variety of options for culture and leisure. The most famous place in the city is the old Gasômetro plant, another cultural center that can be visited before or after seeing the most traditional sunset in southern Brazil, the Guaíba.

With beaches across the entire territorial extension of the state, Rio Grande do Sul is home to the longest beach in the world, Cassino, in the city of Rio Grande. Other beaches that stand out for their beauty are Torres, Capão da Canoa, Tramandaí and Imbé. In the extreme south of the state, the beaches of Hermenegildo and Barra do Chuí are famous for their icy waters.

Jaguarão is a city far to the south, bordering Uruguay. It has an architectural heritage cataloged and preserved by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), which reaches 800 properties. It has one of the oldest international bridges, inaugurated in 1930, connecting to the Uruguayan municipality of Rio Branco. The Mauá International Bridge was built by the government of the neighboring country as payment of a historic debt contracted as a result of the Paraguayan War, as a result of the defeat in the Battle of Jaguarão. It also has the largest preserved family collection in Latin America, the Carlos Barbosa Museum, in honor of the memory of the former senator of the empire and the republic and former president of the province, from which it takes its name.

A geographical area located in the northeast of the state, Serra Gaúcha has sensational itineraries for tourism. The region was heavily colonized by Italian immigrants in the early 20th century. In Gramado and Canela we have a film festival, Italian gastronomy festivals and the famous Gramado artisanal chocolate festival, as well as the Caracol waterfall in Canela. Snow is also expected there in the winter months. Bento Gonçalves is known for its wineries, which are also very present in other municipalities in the region. Another occasion much awaited by tourists is Natal Luz de Gramado, between the months of October and December. Every two years, the Grape Festival takes place in Caxias do Sul.

Third largest city in the state, Pelotas is a bicentennial lady full of charm. Known as the city of sweets, it celebrates the title annually at Fenadoce. Among its charms are the Pelotense Public Library, the Museum of Sweets, the Castle of João Simões Lopes Neto, author of numerous works on gaucho folk tales and legends, as well as the Casa de Cultura Adail Bento Costa and the Parque Baronesa Museum. Bathed by Lagos dos Patos, Praia do Laranjal is where locals and tourists enjoy spending the late afternoon. The Metropolitan Cathedral is also a great place to visit, as is the Anglican church, known as the Cabeluda Church. Still preserved, Charquedas Santa Rita, São João and Boa Vista preserve the memory of Pelotas’ heyday and also of a cycle of pain and suffering, where enslaved labor was a reality in the Brazilian economy.

Theatro Sete de Abril, one of the oldest in Brazil and currently closed for renovations, offers impeccable architecture. For those who enjoy art, the Leopoldo Gotuzzo Museum of Art is an excellent option.

The oldest city in Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande is known for having the longest beach in the world, Cassino, which is 220 km long. Another vocation of the city is fishing, well represented in the Nautical Museum. Oceanology is another tradition in the city and can be identified in the Oceanographic Museum, where live species of marine animals can be seen, in addition to photos and ocean research. In Tamandaré Square, the main square in the city, the leader of the Farrapos War, Bento Gonçalves, is buried under a monument. The trolley tour allows the tourist to connect with nature by feeling the ocean breeze on the face of the jetties at Barra do Cassino. Ilha dos Marinheiros is the right destination for those who walk in the city, with the crossing made in small artisanal boats. It is still possible to take a ride on the catamaran boats that make the crossing to the neighboring city, São José do Norte, which is also worth a visit. Other unmissable tours are at the Ilha da Pólvora Eco-museum, at the Taim Ecological Reserve and Capilha beach, at Lagoa Mirim.

And you, have you ever visited these or any other place in Rio Grande do Sul that should be on this list?

Share your experiences in the comments!