Caxias do Sul (Portuguese pronunciation:[kaˈʃi.ɐzduˈsuw]) is a city inRio Grande do Sul,Southern Brazil, situated in the state's mountainousSerra Gaúcha region. It was established byItalian immigrants on June 20, 1890. Today it is the secondlargest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In 2020, the population of Caxias do Sul was estimated at 517,451 people, many of whom are of Italian and German descent. The demonym of the citizens of Caxias do Sul isCaxiense.^[3]

Caxias do Sul
Municipality
Municipality of Caxias do Sul
From the top, clockwise: Caxias do Sul Cathedral; Aerial view of the city; Dante Alighieri Square; landscapes around Caxias do Sul in the winter; Exhibition Park of Grapes Festival; View of Caxias do Sul and La Cave castle.
Flag Seal
Nickname:  Pearl of the Colonies
Location of Caxias do Sul
Caxias do Sul Location in Brazil
Coordinates:29°10′00″S51°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	Adiló Didomênico (PSDB)
Area
• Municipality	1,643.913 km2 (634.718 sq mi)
• Urban	65.5 km2 (25.3 sq mi)
Elevation	817 m (2,680 ft)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Municipality	463,501
• Density	280/km2 (730/sq mi)
• Metro	735,276
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
• Summer (DST)	Does not observe DST
Postal Code	95000-000
Area code	+55 54
HDI (2010)	0.782 –high[2]
Website	caxias.rs.gov.br

The history of Caxias do Sul began before the arrival of the Italian immigrants when the region was being roamed by cattlemen and occupied byIndigenous peoples. The region was called "Indians' Field" in that period. The arrival of Italian immigrants, mostly farmers in search of a better life from theVeneto,Lombardy,Trento (northern Italy) as well as other regions in Italy, began in 1875 inNova Milano. Although they received governmental support such as tools, supplies, and seeds, everything had to be reimbursed to the federal government.^[4][5]

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.^[4] Many economic cycles marked the evolution of the city throughout that century. The first one is connected to the most significant aspect of its cultural identity: the cultivation of vineyards and the production of wine, first for its own consumption, and later on, for commercialization.^[6]

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 worked in other economic sectors. They settled down, urbanized the region, and started a fast-paced process of industrialization.^[7]

In the countryside,subsistence agriculture concentrates on the cultivation of grapes, wheat, and corn. Home-based manufacturing started to emerge and overproduction was commercialized. Home-based manufacturing and Caxias do Sul evolved from having small home-based workshops to large scale factories, some of which are known internationally.^[6]

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.^[8][9][10]

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.

ACaxiense (Portuguese pronunciation:[kaʃiˈẽsi]) is a citizen of the city of Caxias do Sul. A possible anglicization of Caxiense would beCaxian. 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 theSerra Gaúcha. Caxiense also offers a bus service from Caxias do Sul toPorto Alegre and the Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International Airport.

The following table shows the development of the number of inhabitants according to census data ofIBGE^{[citation needed]}.

Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. Elderly people can often speakTalian, a regional language based onVenetian but also very much influenced by other Italian dialects and by Portuguese.^[12]

Caxias do Sul is a city inRio Grande do Sul, situated in the state's mountainousSerra Gaúcha region.

The city is located in the mountains of the Serra Gaucha, 760 metres (2,490 ft) above sea level.^[13] Under theKöppen climate classification, Caxias do Sul features anoceanic climate.^[14] 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 are 26 °C (78.8 °F) and 16 °C (60.8 °F), respectively.^[15] Frosts are common in the winter andsnow can occur, but it is less common. The last significant snowfalls were recorded in August 2013, when 10–15 cm of snow fell over the city,^[13][16] and in July 2021.^[13][17]

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.^[19][20] Some of these companies are:

• Marcopolo (buses and truck frames, present in six countries)
• Randon S.A. – Implementos e Participações is a mixed holding company, leader of a group of seven companies that employ a workforce of 6,6 thousand employees. They operate in the sectors of road equipment / railway wagons / specialty vehicles/ auto parts/ automotive systems, and services;^[21]
• Agrale S/A which owns 4 industrial plants, being the only Brazilian company with 100% national capital making vehicles, tractors and diesel engines;
• Tramontina silverware company based in neighbouringCarlos Barbosa with plants throughout Brazil;
• Grendene, the biggest Brazilian manufacturer of shoes based in neighboringFarroupilha;
• Todeschini, a manufacturer of furniture based in nearbyBento Gonçalves, the wine capital of Brazil;
• Hyco Hidrover, a manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders for mobile applications.

• Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS);
• Centro Universitário da Serra Gaúcha (FSG);
• Faculdade de Tecnologia (FTEC);
• Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS)
• Faculdade Anglo-Americano;
• Anhanguera Faculdades;
• Faculdade América Latina;
• Faculdade dos Imigrantes;
• and smaller HEIs

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 anddecorators made a significant career in the city and around, like asPietro Stangherlin,Francisco Meneguzzo and the Zambelli family. They left the first examples of artworks worth of mention, specially insacred art and building decoration.Julio Calegari andUlysses Geremia, both photographers, also deserve close attention for their huge collections ofportraits and views of the old city.^[22]

As of historical architecture, one may find a feweclectic houses built for rich families, public buildings andNeo-Gothic churches, like as the Cathedral and theChapel of the Holy Sepulchre. 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.^[23] Current laws protect every building older than 50 years, but many have been destroyed or altered, despite official protection.^[23][24]

The city nowadays has many intensely active museums and cultural centers, both private and official,^[25] and theUniversidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS) which sponsors an art gallery, a museum, a huge library and asymphonic orchestra.^[26][27]

The city hosted the2022 Summer Deaflympics between May 1 to 15, 2022,^[28] postponed two times due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first ever Deaflympics to be ever held in South America and the Latin America.

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.^[25]

The city also hosts the National Grape and Wine Festival, which celebrates the Italian heritage. It's one of the most famous events in the country and it's calledFesta da Uva, when lots of merrymaking, wine-drinking, grapes and people animate the month of February, every two years (on even-numbered years).^[29] Visitors may eat cheese, grapes and various Brazilian wines. Visitors interested in the regions wine can also visit theChâteau Lacave Castle, a 6th Century-style medieval structure that currently functions as awinery. Caxias do Sul is also one of the four settlements along theCaminhos da Colônia scenic tourist route in theSerra Gaúcha.^[30]

Air transport is made throughHugo Cantergiani Regional Airport, with a runway measuring 1,939 meters in length, which accommodatesBoeing 737-800 andEmbraer 195E2 aircraft with capacities for 186 and 136 passengers respectively, with capacity to operate aircraft of up to 200 seats and annual capacity of 600 thousand passengers.

Caxias do Sul is home to theS.E.R. Caxias andJuventude football clubs. Even though both teams have claimed theCampeonato Gaúcho, Juventude has accomplished more at a national level, having played in the first division of theCampeonato Brasileiro for more than fifteen seasons and winning the 1999 edition of theCopa do Brasil. Caxias has been playing in the fourth division since 2016. Juventude made it back into the first division in 2020. Juventude has the third-largest fan base in the state, just behind the two major teams of the state capital city,Porto Alegre.

•  Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

• Hygino Corsetti [pt] – brazilian military and politician, former Minister of Communications.
• Paulo Bellini [pt] – brazilian businessman, founder ofMarcopolo S.A..
• Tite (born 1961), the head coach of theBrazil national football team
• Celso Roth, football coach
• Marcelo Demoliner, tennis player^[31]
• Fernando Kreling, volleyball player
• Guilherme Roth, swimmer
• Alexandro Pozzer, handball player
• Alex Telles (born 1992), football player
• André Todescato (born 1982), football player
• Bressan (born 1993), football player
• Everton Giovanella, football player
• Thaisa Serafini, squash player

• List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul
• Nossa Senhora de Pompéia Hospital
• São Romédio Community
• Pietro Nosadini
• Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul
• Historic Center of Caxias do Sul
• João Spadari Adami Municipal Historical Archive

• City Hall of Caxias do Sul
• Street Map of Caxias do Sul
• Local Newspaper "O Pioneiro" (The Pioneer)
• The University of Caxias do Sul
• Juventude Soccer Club
• S.E.R. Caxias Soccer Club
• Caxias Bus Station and Schedules
• Caxias do Sul Tourist Guide
• Official Festa da Uva Site (The Grape Festival)
• Chateau Lacave CastleArchived February 11, 2021, at theWayback Machine