Gramado


Gramado is a small tourist city, southeast of Caxias do Sul and east of Nova Petrópolis in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Serra Gaúcha region. The city was originally settled by Azorean descendants and later received a contingent of German and Italian immigrants. Gramado is one of the cities along the scenic route known as Rota Romântica.

History

Gramado was originally settled in 1875 by Portuguese immigrants. Five years later, the first German immigrants arrived and these were followed shortly after by Italian immigrants from the Italian settlements in Caxias do Sul.
In 1913, the city seat was moved to Linha Nova, the location of the present-day city center. At this time, Gramado was an unincorporated city within the city of Taquara. A railway, brought by Gramado's founder and first administrator, José Nicoletti Filho, arrived in the city in 1921, boosting the local economy. Gramado officially became a city in 1937, when Gramado was already known as a summer holiday resort. Gramado became a city on December 15, 1954 by force of State Act 2,522.

Politics and Government

Gramado Government is in a strong mayor-council government model, as set forth by the Brazilian Constitution of 1988. Elections for both mayoral and legislative offices are held every fourth year. The Mayor may seek reelection once, while Councilmen have no restriction on terms they may serve.

Executive Branch

Executive powers are held by the Mayor of Gramado, who appoints a Cabinet, the heads of several municipal bodies and members of the Planning Commission. The current Mayor is Nestor Tissot elected in 2008. The current Deputy Mayor is Luia Barbacovi. In the election of 2016 the opposition candidate won, thereby Fedoca Bertolucci takes the City Hall on January 1, 2017.

Geography

Open spaces

Gramado has several green areas, the most important are Black Lake, Communications Square, Knorr Park, Orchard Park, Major Nicoletti Square and, Roses Square.

Lago Negro

Lago Negro is the most known, visited green area of Gramado. It was created in 1953 by Leopoldo Rosenfeld on an area it was the biggest woods of the Hydrangeas' Region, this very area had been destroyed by fire in 1942. It was named after Good Rest Valley before fire.
A creek was dammed up to create a U-shaped lake. Rosenfeld imported pine seedlings from Black Forest in Germany to be planted all around the newly formed lake's rim.
Lago Negro is a mile away from Town Hall. There is a boathouse, working daily from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, concession stands and a small craftsmen fair nearby.

Climate

The climate is maritime temperate with mild summer. The summers are not usually hot, with temperatures around. There are some hotter days, but with always pleasant evenings, moderated by mountain air and forests. Winters are cool, with temperatures sometimes falling below, heavy frosts and occasional snowfall.

Culture and tourism

The city is in a mountain range, averaging 850 meters above sea level. Visitors from Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes may notice several tree species common to their home territory in cultivation here, flourishing among the native Parana Pine.
Gramado has five sister cities: