Gramado

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Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul
Image:Joaquina Bier 01.jpg
Image:GramadoSeal.JPG
Seal
Nickname: Hydrangeas' Garden
Image:RioGrandedoSul Municip Gramado.svg
Geographical subdivisions of Rio Grande do Sul. Gramado is highlighted with red.
Coordinates: 29°24′17″S 50°52′35″W / -29.40472, -50.87639
State Rio Grande do Sul
Government
 - Mayor Pedro Bertolucci
Area [1]
 - Total 237 km² (91.5 sq mi)
Elevation 850 m (2,789 ft)
Population (2005)[1]
 - Total 33,278
 - Density 140.4/km² (363.6/sq mi)
Website: www.gramado.rs.gov.br

Gramado is a small touristic town to the southeast of Caxias do Sul and east of Nova Petrópolis in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. This mountainous and Germanesque region is known as the Serra Gaúcha. The majority of Gramado's inhabitants are German-Brazilians. Gramado is one of the towns along the scenic route known as Rota Romântica. The town is also part of the scenic Região das Hortênsias route.

Gramado hosts the Festival de Gramado, a major South American film festival and Gramado's most important event. Gramado is also known by hydrangeas blossoming in late spring. Another key event in Gramado is Natal Luz, when Gramado is decked out in lights and wreathes made of recycled plastic bottles. Though this may sound odd, the result is very attractive decorations that don't require any water. Natal Luz sports high levels of community involvement, as majority of decorative devices are crafted by local residents in a voluntary job.

Gramado is one of the towns along the scenic route known as Rota Romântica. The town is also part of the scenic Região das Hortênsias route.

Contents

[edit] History

Gramado was settled by two Portuguese citizens, José Manuel Corrêa and Tristão de Oliveira, in 1875. Five years later (1880)), arrives two German immigrants, João José Rath and Henrique Wasem, who first drafted a Gramado map. Also arrived in Gramado the baroness Joaquina Rita Bier and her husband, Henrique Bier; now, there is a pond named after Joaquina Bier. From the Italian settlements in Caxias do Sul came the first Italian immigrants. At the time of arrival of German and Italian immigrants, there were a quite small number of Portuguese settlers.

In 1913, the town seat was moved in to Linha Nova, where now is the town center. At this time, Gramado was an unincorporated township within the city of Taquara. Railway arrived in Gramado in 1921, boosting the local economy. Gramado was raised to the condition of village in 1937, when Gramado was already known as a holiday resort. Gramado was first a summer resort.

In 1948, some citizens of Gramado believed Gramado should be incorporated as a town, then a commission was set up to foster the idea; commissioners were Osvaldo Seidl (chairman), Érico Albrecht (secretary), Walter Bertolucci (treasurer) and Hugo Daros. This commission failed to push for the idea. In September 26, 1953, a new commission was set up, and it was made up by Walter Bertolucci (now, the chairman), Hugo Daros as secretary and Euzébio Balzaretti as treasurer. This commission accomplished its original purpose and in December 15, 1954, the then-governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Ernesto Dornelles, signed into law the Act 2.522, raising Gramado as a town.

[edit] 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, which means that both Mayor and Councilmen serve for a four year tenure; Mayor may seek reelection only once, Councilmen have no restriction on how many terms they may serve.

Gramado has no audit body. All auditing service is provided by the Rio Grande do Sul Court of Audit. Gramado is the seat of the Gramado County and has its own County Court, Cyro Púperi is the judge assigned to Gramado County Court, and Luiz Goulart the County Magistrate. Gramado has also a Labor Courthouse with two chambers - the cities of Cambará do Sul, Canela, Jaquirana, Nova Petrópolis and São Francisco de Paula fall under Gramado Labor Courthouse's jurisdiction.

[edit] Executive Branch

See also: Mayor of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul

All Executive powers are vested in the person of the Mayor of Gramado. The Mayor of Gramado appoints the Cabinet secretaries, their deputies, heads of several bodies created by law and members of the Zoning Plan Commission. Current Mayor is Pedro H. Bertolucci (PP) and he was elected in 2004 with 11,221 votes (53.63% of valid votes)[2]. His only rival, João Bertoluci (PDT), managed to secure 9,624 votes (46.17% of valid votes)[2]. The office of Mayor of Gramado is often rotated between the two largest, rival parties of Gramado: Progressive Party and PMDB.

[edit] Cabinet Membership

  1. Department of Administration: Headed by the Secretary of Administration Marcia Masotti;
  2. Department of Agriculture: Headed by the Secretary of Agriculture José Branchini;
  3. Department of Development: Headed by the Secretary of Development Jaime Schaumlöffel, and aided by Undersecretary Sérgio Prinstrop;
  4. Department of Education: Headed by the Secretary of Education Jeferson W Moschen;
  5. Department of Environment;
  6. Department of Health: Headed by Secretary of Health Ubiratã de Oliveira;
  7. Department of Housing and Welfare: Headed by the Secretary of Housing and Welfare Iria Pinto;
  8. Department of Public Works: Headed by the Secretary of Public Works Rafel Ronsoni;
  9. Department of Treasury: Headed by the Secretary of Treasury João Till;
  10. Department of Tourism: Headed by the Secretary of Tourism Alemir Coletto and
  11. Department of Urban Planning: Headed by the Secretary of Urban Planning Vonei Benetti.

[edit] Legislative Branch

All Legislative powers are vested in the Gramado Town Council. Gramado Town Council is a unicameral, open list, 9-member legislature. Gramado Town Council is seated at Municipal Culture Center and holds annual sessions, beginning at the first Monday of February and adjourning no later than December 31 of the same year . City Charter mandates at least one ordinary meeting per week. Speaker of the Council, Committee chairmen and members are elected every year; current Speaker of the Council is Jeferson Moschen (Progressive Party).

[edit] Town Council Membership

As of July 22, 2005[3], these are the members of the Gramado Town Council. Next elections are likely to be held in the first Sunday of October, 2008. Members are sorted by political position (Government or Opposition), by party and, by last name:

Government

  • Brazilian Social Democracy Party – PSDB
    1. Jorge Drumm
  • Progressive Party - PP
    1. Ilton Gomes
    2. Leonildo Noel
    3. Camilo Roldo
    4. Rafael Ronsoni, who is also Deputy Speaker of the Council

Opposition

  • Democratic Labour Party – PDT
    1. Ivo Tomazelli
  • Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement – PMDB
    1. Josué Altreiter
    2. Luiz Bolfe
  • Workers’ Party – PT
    1. Gilnei Benetti

[edit] Open spaces

One of distinctives features of Gramado is its interaction with environment. Gramado has several green areas, the most important are Black Lake, Communications Square, Knorr Park, Orchard Park, Major Nicoletti Square and, Roses Square.

[edit] Black Lake

Image:Lago Negro12.jpg
Black Lake

Black Lake (English for Lago Negro) is the most known, visited green area of Gramado. Black Lake was created[4] 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. Black Lake's site was named after Good Rest Valley (Vale do Bom Retiro) before fire.

A creek was dammed up to create[5] an U-shaped lake. Rosenfeld imported from Black Forest in Germany pine seedlings to be planted all over newly-formed lake's rim.

Black Lake 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.

[edit] Sister cities

Gramado has 4 sister cities[6]

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b "Gramado." RESUMO ESTATÍSTICO RS - Municípios. Fundação de Economia e Estatística. 9 Sep 2006 <http://www.fee.rs.gov.br/sitefee/pt/content/resumo/pg_municipios_detalhe.php?municipio=Gramado>.
  2. ^ a b "Gramado." Eleições 2004 - Resultados do município. Tribunal Regional Eleitoral do Rio Grande do Sul. 9 Sep 2006 <http://www.tre-rs.gov.br/eleicoes/2004/1t/voto/RS86819.htm>.
  3. ^ "Câmara Municipal de Gramado." Interlegis. 8 Sep 2006 <http://www.interlegis.gov.br/comunidade/casas_legislativas/municipal/RS/c933>.
  4. ^ "Gramado." BrasilViagem.com. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://www.brasilviagem.com/pontur/?CodAtr=3128>.
  5. ^ Barbosa, Eliane. "Pousadas de Gramado." Jornal da Cidade 21 July 2005. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:xGB5vqnelIwJ:jcnet.uol.com.br/cadernos/detalhe_turismo.php%3Fcodigo%3D54780+gramado+site:jcnet.uol.com.br&hl=pt-BR&gl=br&ct=clnk&cd=1>.
  6. ^ "Prefeito de Gramado viaja ao Espírito Santo." 3 Nov. 2005. Prefeitura de Gramado. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://www.gramado.rs.gov.br/content/view/497/39/>.

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
Cities of the Rota Romântica
São Leopoldo · Novo Hamburgo · Estância Velha · Ivoti · Dois Irmãos · Morro Reuter · Santa Maria do Herval · Presidente Lucena · Picada Café · Nova Petrópolis · Gramado · Canela · São Francisco de Paula

Coordinates: 29°24′S, 50°52′Wca:Gramado es:Gramado fr:Gramado gl:Gramado bpy:গ্রামাডো io:Gramado no:Gramado pl:Gramado pt:Gramado ro:Gramado vo:Gramado

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