Caxias do Sul

Caxias do Sul

City of Caxias do Sul, Top left:Ambiance Museum of Rock House (Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra), Top middle:Italian Immigrant Monument, Top right:Cathedral of Caxias do Sul, Middle:Panorama view of Caxias do Sul, from Festa da Uva Hills, Bottom left:Liberdade Statue in Dante Alghieri Park, Bottom middle:Metalurgica Abramo Eberle Foundation Headquarter, Bottom right:Caxias Culture House (Caxias Casa de Cultura)

Seal
Nickname(s): Pearl of the Colonies

Location of Caxias do Sul
Caxias do Sul

Location in Brazil

Coordinates: 29°10′00″S 51°11′00″W / 29.16667°S 51.18333°W / -29.16667; -51.18333Coordinates: 29°10′00″S 51°11′00″W / 29.16667°S 51.18333°W / -29.16667; -51.18333
Country  Brazil
Region South
State Rio Grande do Sul
Founded June 20, 1890
Government
  Mayor Alceu Barbosa Velho (PDT)
Area
  City 1.643 km2 (0.634 sq mi)
Elevation 817 m (2,680 ft)
Population (2012)
  City 446,911[1]
  Metro 735,276
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 the land great importance; for such reason Caxias do Sul is often called "Pearl of the Colonies", is considered the center of the Italian presence in Southern Brazil.[6][7][8]

Today Caxias do Sul is one of the region's central hubs, hosting some of Brazil's most diverse economies besides its size; with its industrial parks, vast vineyards, wine commerce, cattle and plantation farms give the land a further dimension.

Caxiense

A Caxiense (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaʃiˈẽsi]) is a citizen of the city of Caxias do Sul. A possible anglicization of Caxiense would be Caxian. Caxiense is also the name of a bus line with headquarters in Caxias do Sul. Caxiense provides transport service with a fleet of coaches to cities in the Serra Gaúcha. Caxiense also offers a bus service from Caxias do Sul to Porto Alegre and the Porto Alegre Salgado Filho International Airport.

Population growth

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1994 307,921    
1996 325,694+5.8%
2000 360,419+10.7%
2004 396,419+10.0%
2008 427,858+7.9%
2012 446,911+4.5%

Climate

Caxias do Sul
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
145
 
 
26
17
 
 
152
 
 
26
17
 
 
206
 
 
24
16
 
 
132
 
 
22
12
 
 
109
 
 
19
11
 
 
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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: br.weather

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 was recorded in August 2013, when 10–15 cm of snow fell over the city.[9][12]

Snow in Caxias do Sul, in 2013

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.[14][15] Some of these companies are:

Main article: Marcopolo S.A.

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.[17]

Colleges and universities

Culture

City Museum.
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 collections of portraits and views of the old city.[18]

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.[19] Current laws protect every building older than 50 years, but many have been destroyed or altered, despite official protection.[19][20]

The city nowadays has many intensely active museums and cultural centers, both private and official,[21] and a great university which sponsors an art gallery, a museum, a huge library and a symphonic orchestra.[22][23]

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.[21]

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).[24] 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.[25]

Caxias do Sul is served by Hugo Cantergiani Airport, formerly called Campo dos Bugres Airport.[26]

Soccer teams

Caxias do Sul is home to the S.E.R. Caxias and Juventude soccer clubs. Even though both teams have in recent times claimed the Campeonato Gaúcho, Juventude has had greater luck at national level, making it into the first division of the Campeonato Brasileiro for over ten years and winning the 1999 edition of the Copa do Brasil, while Caxias has been playing in the third division since 2006. Juventude joins Caxias in the third division for the 2014 season. S.E.R. Caxias[27] 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.

Foto panorâmica do estádio Esporte Clube Juventude.
Panoramic View of Caxias do Sul seen from the Grape Festival.

References

  1. Population in 2012 (Portuguese)
  2. 1 2 Nome. Prefeitura Municipal. Acesso 25 set 2010
  3. 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. 1 2 Giron, pp. 10-12
  5. 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
  6. Giron, pp. 12-13
  7. 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
  8. Ribeiro, Cleodes M. P. J. Festa e Identidade: Como se fez a Festa da Uva. Caxias do Sul: UCS, 2002. pp. 137-144.
  9. 1 2 Beretta, Pier Luigi. Boletim Geográfico 243. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE, 33(243), nov./dez., 1974. pp. 5-10.
  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
  11. "Médias e registros - Caxias do Sul, Brasil". The Weather Channel.
  12. "Normais climatológicas do Brasil 1961-1990" (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  13. "Caxias do Sul segue com o maior Índice de Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico do RS". Zero Hora, 18/09/2008
  14. 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
  15. "Empresas Randon conquistam Prêmio Exportação RS". Acionista.com, 22/06/2010
  16. Prefeitura Municipal de Caxias do Sul - RS
  17. 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. 1 2 "A preservação não recusa o novo". In Boletim Memória. Caxias do Sul: Museu e Arquivo Histórico Municipal, nº4, 1992
  19. "Caxias possui 28 bens tombados". Gazeta de Caxias, 03/03/2010
  20. 1 2 Apresentação. Secretaria da Cultura
  21. Projeto Mostra UCS Campus 8 – Cidade das Artes. UCS, 2004
  22. "Música Erudita em especial aos 75 anos do município". O Informante, 10 de Dezembro de 2009
  23. 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
  24. "Caxias do Sul abre as porteiras para o turismo rural". Agência Sebrae de Notícias, 3 de Agosto de 2009
  25. Aeroportos Rio G. Sul RS. Aeroportos do Brasil.
  26. http://globoesporte.globo.com/platb/teoria-dos-jogos/2011/12/17/a-pesquisa-da-vez-caxias-do-sulrs-exclusivo/
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