2014 FIFA WORLD CUP: PORTO ALEGRE
GAÚCHOS PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE 2014 WORLD CUP
The United Nations Organization (UN) nominated Porto Alegre three times as the city with the highest quality of life in Brazil. Porto Alegre is a modern, cosmopolitan city with culture and many attractions for tourists. Besides that, traditional rodizio steakhouses and typical gaúcho restaurants are part of the city’s culinary circuit. Savour the traditional carreteiro rice, “feijão mexido” (black beans with cassava flour), sweet potatoes, fried cassava and other Brazilian specialties. Be sure to attend Porto Alegre’s traditional annual folk events with dance performances and music concerts.
Porto Alegre
Temperatures are milder in Porto Alegre with well defined seasons. There are over 2 million people living in Porto Alegre, which was founded by people from the Azores. European influences are evident from Germany, Italy, Spain, Africa, Poland and Lebanon, making it a centre of cultural diversity and wealth.
Porto Alegre will host five of the 2014 World Cup matches. The Beira-Rio stadium has been refurbished and modernized and totally adapted to FIFA’s standards. An investment of US$ 152 million has been allocated to the refurbishment works of the Gigantinho gymnasium, next to Beira-Rio, so that it may be used as a venue for concerts and conventions, thus, supplying the club with other sources of revenue. “The idea is to bring visitors to watch the World Cup matches and also for them to get to know the city.” says Raul Mendes da Rocha from the Tourism Department of Porto Alegre.
The hotel sector of Porto Alegre has increased their capacity by 40% to accommodate the additional travelers during the World Cup and they now offer over 10,000 rooms. The Salgado Filho International Airport has been completely remodeled and can handle over 7,000 passengers per year.
