Porto Alegre (lit. "Joyous Port") is one of the largest cities in Brazil, and the capital city of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre is one of the most important cultural, political and economic centers of Southern Brazil. Porto Alegre held the highest standard of living among all Brazilian capitals for many years and it was the sole Brazilian city listed on Jones Lang LaSalle's World Winning Cities.
The city, located on the Guaiba Lake, was founded in 1742 by immigrants from the Azores. In the late 19th century the city received people from other parts of the world, particularly Germany, Poland, and Italy. Located at the junction of five rivers, it has become an important alluvial port as well as one of the chief industrial and commercial centers in Brazil.
The Salgado Filho International Airport connects Porto Alegre with Brazilian cities and also operates international flights.
The city is home to the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
