Porto Alegre, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, is located in a privileged place.
As a strategic spot in Mercosul (South American Union, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), Porto Alegre is the geographic center of the main routes in the South Cone, at an equal distance from Buenos Aires and Montevideo and from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
As a consequence, Porto Alegre is already visited by tourists from all the Southern America countries. As it is certain that some of them will be qualified for the World Cup 2014, the city will gain a Latino, Spanish speaking atmosphere during the event.
Porto Alegre is the only city in the World which can boast two teams which were World Champions: Internacional and Gremio. Both teams have their own large stadiums: Gremio is renovating and expanding their Olympic Stadium, but Beira-Rio (Internacional’s stadium) was chosen to host matches of the Cup.
According to Inter, Beira-Rio will be, after the renovation, one of the biggest football venues in Brazil, and, as such, is a candidate to host the opening game and one of the semi-finals of the Cup.
Matches of the World Cup 2014 in Porto Alegre: 5; it is certain that the Brazilian team will not play in Porto Alegre. Given the physical and cultural proximity, it is almost certain that either Argentina and Uruguay will stay in Porto Alegre during the Cup.
Recommended five star hotel: Continental Porto Alegre.
Recommended restaurant: Fazenda Barbanegra, whose specialty is churrasco, the most traditional dish in the South of Brazil.
Read more about the World Cup in Porto Alegre.
World Cup Cities 2014 