Last Thursday (18), a meeting took place between the Consul General of Italy in Rio Grande do Sul, Valerio Caruso, and governor Eduardo Leite, at Palácio Piratini.
The main focus of the meeting was the initial discussion on preparations for the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Italian immigration in Rio Grande do Sul, which are scheduled for 2025. One of the topics covered was the formation of a cultural committee that will be responsible for organizing the events throughout the state throughout the year in order to highlight the importance of this date.
The official visit of the new Ambassador of Italy, Alessandro Cortese, scheduled for April this year, was also announced, with the aim of strengthening ties between Rio Grande do Sul and Italy, especially in the economic, commercial and scientific and cultural cooperation sectors. .
Present at the meeting were state deputy Guilherme Pasin; the Secretary of Justice, Citizenship and Human Rights, Fabricio Guazzelli Peruchin; the Deputy Secretary of the Civil House, Gustavo Paim; the Chief of Staff of Deputy Frederico Antunes, Cristiano Guerra; the university professor at PUC-RS, Antonio de Ruggiero and the counselor of the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE), Stephania Puton.
150 years of Italian immigration in Rio Grande do Sul
In 1875, the Brazilian imperial government restarted an immigration program with the aim of populating the interior of the country. Rio Grande do Sul was one of the main destinations for these immigrants, who came mainly from Italy.
The reasons for Italian immigration to Rio Grande do Sul were diverse. Among them, the following stand out:
- The economic and social crisis in Italy: The end of the 19th century was a period of great change in Italy, with the end of Austrian rule and the unification of the country. These changes, however, brought with them a series of economic and social problems, such as lack of land and poverty.
- Brazilian government propaganda: The Brazilian government, through advertisements, encouraged Italian immigration, offering land and assistance to immigrants.
The main highlights of Italian immigration in Rio Grande do Sul were:
- Population and economic growth: Italian immigration contributed to the growth of the population and economy of Rio Grande do Sul. The immigrants brought with them new agricultural and production techniques, which contributed to the development of agriculture, livestock, industry and commerce.
- To Italian culture: Italian immigration also left an important cultural legacy in Rio Grande do Sul. Italian culture is present in the state’s music, gastronomy, festivals and customs.
Italian immigration was an important event in the history of Rio Grande do Sul. Italian immigrants contributed to the development of the state, influencing its culture and economy.
Some interesting facts about Italian immigration in Rio Grande do Sul:
- The majority of Italian immigrants who came to Rio Grande do Sul were farmers. They came mainly from the regions of Veneto, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna.
- The first Italian colonies in Rio Grande do Sul were founded in Serra Gaúcha, Vale do Rio dos Sinos and Pampa Gaúcho.
- Italian immigration contributed to the development of grape cultivation in Rio Grande do Sul. Today, the state is the main producer of wine and sparkling wine in Brazil.
The 150th anniversary of Italian immigration to Rio Grande do Sul is an opportunity to celebrate the history and culture of this important event.