Porto Alegre is the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil. With 4.2 million people in its metropolitan area, it is the 4th largest city of the country. The city is not known for its tourist attractions, although it is a frequently used entry point to the Serras Gaúchas region, a major domestic tourism destination.

Porto Alegre is the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul and the biggest urban agglomeration of Southern Brazil. Situated geographically and culturally midway between São Paulo and Buenos Aires, Porto Alegre developed its distinct flavor of Portuguese heritage under the influence of other European immigrants and a variety of other ethnic groups. It is one of the richest cities in the country, the state capital with the highest life quality and literacy rate (97%), and the book capital of Brazil.

Porto Alegre is now a service-centered city in between the industrial part of the state (north-east) and the rural part (south). It is also called the "Mercosul Capital".

- Wikivoyage