História

The oldest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul is located on the southern bank of the estuary that flows into the Atlantic Ocean, known as Lagoa dos Patos, the largest laguna in Brazil.

The first seamen who sailed across southern Atlantic Ocean in the 16th Century, mistook the laguna channel across the immense sandy areas for a large river, which the city, as well as the state of Rio Grande do Sul itself were later named after.

The city was founded on February 19, 1737, by Brigadier José da Silva Paes, who was leading a Portuguese military expedition whose goal was to secure the southern lands under the Portuguese domain. That time, Lusitanian-Brazilian and Spanish-Castellanos fought bloody battles on lands which currently belong to the State of Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay, former Colônia do Sacramento. That’s why the bar of former Rio Grande de São Pedro was strategic for a military installation, chosen by Silva Paes to erect the Jesus, Maria and José Fortress.

In 1751, the hamlet that was built was promoted to the category of village. However, in 1763, the village of São Pedro do Rio Grande was taken over by the Spaniards, who ruled for 13 years, until April 1776, when it was definitively taken by the Portuguese.

The strategic geographic position of the city consolidated itself in times of peace, as well. The condition of only maritime port in the state, which all immigrants and international trade came through, along with lavish fishing, agriculture and husbandry of the region, attracted European settlers and defined the base of the current economy: port and fishing activities, oil refining, industries, commerce, tourism and services.