Sao Leopoldo

Founded in 1824, the city is the cradle of German colonization in Brazil. Tourists can visit the sights and religious, to serve the food, knowing the craft and have fun at night leopoldense. Sao Leopoldo also has one of the largest private universities in Brazil, the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos).

The first immigrants arrived in Porto Alegre, capital of the province of São Pedro do Rio Grande, on 18/07/1824. Soon after, were sent off to the Factory Flax Hemp, an agricultural establishment of government, which gave no results. This factory was located on the left bank of the Rio dos Sinos.

On 7/25/1824, these 39 immigrants, 33 and six evangelical Catholics, arrived at their destination. This is the date of the founding of Sao Leopoldo, hence the title of Cradle of Immigration ¿¿.

They were installed at the Factory until they received their lots colonial. The State Government has named the core of immigrants from the German Colony of St. Leopold, which stretched for more than a thousand square kilometers, covering south-north, the Pillar to Field of Indians (today, Caxias do Sul), and eastward West, Taquara (today) to the Port of Guimaraes, the Fall River (now St. Sebastian's Fall).

Gradually, other immigrants occupied the valleys of the Rio dos Sinos, Chain and Cai, casting progress through hard work, which enabled the German colony to emancipate from Porto Alegre. Contributed to this fact are the Germans, and Landmann ¿¿(farmer), ¿¿hand-Werke (craftsman). The result was a varied production that originated the embryo Industrial Vale do Rio dos Sinos.

In honor of these immigrants, the 25th of July is a great town holiday. With the celebration, Sao Leopoldo rescue the memory of the Germans and the varied contribution to our state.

In addition to July 25 (Day of Saint Kitts and Day of German Immigration), according to municipal law No. 5262/2003, is also an official holiday in Sao Leopoldo on December 8 (Feast of Our Lady of Conception, patroness of the city) .