Secretaria de Turismo de Bento Gonçalves Secretaria de Turismo de Bento Gonçalves
In 1875, the Italian immigration starts at the Upper Northeast Slope, giving origin to following colonies: Dona Isabel (currently Bento Gonçalves), Conde D’Eu (currently Garibaldi) and Nova Palmira (currently Caxias do Sul).
Dona Isabel Colony (Bento Gonçalves), founded in 1870, was already known as the “Little Cross Region”, because of a rustic cross on the grave of a possible herdsman or colonial lots tracer. At that time, people would trade goods among them. Dona Isabel Colony had small shops, where herdsmen would stop to rest.
On December 24, 1875, the Plateau cores started receiving new immigrants. In March, 1876, the State President, Mr. José Antonio de Azevedo Castro, announced the existence of 348 lots measured and limited, with a population of 790 people, being that 729 of them were Italian. Simultaneously, pioneers coming from the Austrian Tirol and the Veneto region came to the esplanade, where today the Cristo Rei Cathedral can be found.
The exchange, purchase and sale of products were performed at the colony headquarters, after long walks by narrow paths (tracks open in the middle of the forest), limited by the immigrants themselves. Among them there were blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, among other professionals that opened their businesses according to their professions, meeting local needs. The building of houses, work tools and the local market followed Dona Isabel Colony development, to meet growing demands. As the area developed, the roads conditions improved and the first tractor-trailers appeared. Within five years, there was an increase of four thousand inhabitants in their population, among people born there and new immigrants.
In 1881, the first motorway is built, connecting Dona Isabel Colony to São João de Montenegro (currently Montenegro). In 1877, Dona Isabel Colony had stores, two bakeries, one hat factory, totaling 40 stores, which offered different services and products throughout the Colony’s territory.
The separation of Dona Isabel Colony from the municipality of Montenegro was made official by ‘Acto’ 474, of October 11, 1890, signed by Cândido Costa, which instituted the city of Bento Gonçalves. The name was given as a tribute to General Bento Gonçalves da Silva, chief of the Farroupilha Revolution, which took place in Rio Grande do Sul from 1835 to 1845.
Bento Gonçalves had its first progress boost when branches of the National Trade Bank and the Pelotas Bank were opened. Between the years of 1919 and 1927, there was the introduction of electricity, transforming station and the distribution grid. In the same period, Hospital Dr. Bartholomeu Tacchini was opened.
In 1950, population was 22,600 inhabitants. The main economic activities were agricultural activities. However, several industries emerged, such as accordion makers, dairy, furniture, tannery sectors, suplhate-making plants and wineries.
With the collaboration of dynamic leaderships and the help of the whole community, the First Fenavinho, the National Wine Festival, was created. The city was visited by a President of Republic for the first time, Marshal Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco. The main product and the strength of economics in Bento Gonçalves were advertised throughout Brazil, turning the city nationally and internationally renowned. The city found its vocation for business tourisms and starts holding major events, such as Fenavinho, Expobento, Fimma, and Fiema.
Currently, Bento Gonçalves has a population of nearly 107 thousand inhabitants, with a Gross Domestic Product of R$ 21,989.00 (IBGE – year: 2007). The city is recognized as one of the main furniture center in the Southern area of Brazil and it is called the Brazilian Grape and Wine Capital. Since 2007, it is one of the 65 Best Destinations in Brazil, chosen by the Ministry of Tourism (MTur).
The pavillion at Parque de Eventos, where the first Fenavinho was held, in 1967, currently features 50,000m² of built area, with air-conditioning system, competing with Parque do Anhembi, in São Paulo.
