Porto Alegre Landmarks and Monuments

(Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

Many of the main landmarks and historical buildings in Porto Alegre are based in the downtown district, being centred around the Praca da Matriz. The most prominent and interesting of these include the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palacio da Justica (Palace of Justice), the Palacio Piratiny (Piratiny Palace) and the Teatro Sao Pedro (St. Peter's Theatre).

At roughly 17 metres / 56 feet in height and almost 25 metres / 79 feet in length, the Monumento aos Acorianos (Azorean Monument) is another prominent landmark located in Porto Alegre. The Monumento aos Acorianos is to be found standing on the Praca dos Acorianos, close to the Praca da Matriz, the Mário Quintana House of Culture and the Ponte dos Acores (Azores Bridge).

Praca da Matriz (Matrix Square / Cathedral Square)

Address: Praca da Matriz, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Officially known as the Praca Marechal Deodoro and located in the very heart of the city, the truly beautiful Praca da Matriz lies three blocks to the south of the leafy Praca Alfandega and is bounded by some of Porto Alegre's most famous landmarks. Dominating the Praca da Matriz with its dramatic religious architecture, the Catedral Metropolitana was built in the early part of the 20th century and is typically neoclassical in its appearance. Other important buildings include the Biblioteca Publico (Public Library) and the Teatro Sao Pedro, both of which reside on the northern side of the square. The Praca da Matriz itself dates back to the late 18th century and is centred around the towering Monumento a Julio de Castilhos (Julio de Castilhos Monument), which was erected in 1914.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Santuário de Nossa Senhora Madre de Deus (Shrine of Our Lady Mother of God)

Address: Rua do Santuário 400, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
A small Catholic temple that could easily go unnoticed, the Santuário de Nossa Senhora Madre de Deus stands atop the Morro Teresópolis (Teresopolis Hill), where it enjoys some stunning views of the cityscape and Lago Guaiba (Lake Guaiba) below. This religious landmark is very modern in its appearance and was designed in 1987, factoring in its exposed windy location. However, it was not until 1992 that the founding stone was laid, and construction lasted until 2000, when the shrine joined the millennium celebrations. The architecture is comprises of a steel frame, together with minimal brickwork and walls of glass, with a sweeping gable roof that extends right down to the ground. Although the Santuário de Nossa Senhora Madre de Deus is not the easiest attraction to reach, if you have a hire car, it is worth finding.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, donations suggested

Monumento aos Acorianos (Azorean Monument)

Address: Praca dos Acorianos, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Known in English as the Azorean Monument, the Monumento aos Acorianos is a contemporary sculpture, created to honour the original group of approximately 60 Azorean couples who settled in Porto Alegre in the middle of the 18th century and were ultimately responsible for populating the city. The Monumento aos Acorianos was built in 1973 using steel and is designed to resemble a galleon, with the structure being formed by intertwined human people, crowned by a winged figure at the front.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Memorial do Rio Grande do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul Memorial)

Address: Rua Sete de Setembro 1020, Praca da Alfandega, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 051 3224 7210
An important cultural centre, the Memorial do Rio Grande do Sul presides over the Praca da Alfandega (Customs Square), with its palatial facade, eclectic baroque stonework, tall clock tower and pointed cupolas. This magnificent listed building served as the headquarters of the Post Office for many years and was built between 1910 and 1913. In the mid-1990s, the Memorial do Rio Grande do Sul was converted into its present-day museum-type attraction and now houses a multitude of important documents, maps and artefacts relating to the history of the city, with its Linha do Tempo (Timeline) exhibition being especially interested.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul)

Address: Rua Sarmento Leite 245, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 051 3227 3745
One of Brazil's biggest and most important universities, the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul is made up of a total of four individual campuses, known as the Campus do Centro, the Campus Olimpico, the Campus Saude and the Campus do Vale. In total, the university is home to more than 30,000 students and has a long history, with its first school being established in 1895. University faculties specialise in a number of different subjects, such as Agronomy, Architecture, Economics, Engineering, Fine Arts, Law, Linguistics, Medicine, Philosophy and Social Sciences.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free