When visiting Caxias do Sul, it is possible to learn a little about the history of the southern region of Brazil. During the colonial period, the Italians and Germans settled in that region at the beginning of the XX century prospering while adhering to its old customs and traditions from those European nations. Specifically in Caxias, the past is blended with the present. The people in Caxias do Sul are proud of their origins, in spite of their divergences. Some of them say they are Brazilian, others Italians, and others gauchos. All in all, they are the fruit of miscegenation. The city reflects its past European immigration very well. Its churches, monuments, vineyards, parks, and gastronomy count on different aspects of miscegenation, as there is a blend of gauchos and Italian influences that have lasted until nowadays in the habits and customs of the people in Caxias do Sul.
The temperate climate, includes the possibility of snow during the winter, which is a factor that attracts tourists who arrive to visit the “Monumento dos Imigrantes” (Immigrant Monument), the “Parque dos Macaquinhos” (Little Monkey Park), the museums, and vineyards. The wine production is one of the main economic activities in this region. This place houses a museum, where there are guides, dressed in medieval clothing, taking the visitors through the rooms and showing them wine production processes.
The Grape Festival, one of the largest events in Brazil, celebrates the grape crop since 1931, impelling the city’s economy during the month of February. Young girls dream of wearing the Grape Festival Queen sash, an award of great representativeness and accountability. The Lacave Castle, built from 1968 to 1978, seeks to recover the memories of those vineyards.