Gramado

Gramado is a small tourist city to the southeast of Caxias do Sul and east of Nova Petrópolis in southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. This mountainous and Germanesque region is known as the Serra Gaúcha. The majority of Gramado's population is German-Brazilian. Gramado hosts a South American film festival each year called the Festival de Gramado and is most famous for the hortensia flowers that bloom light blue each spring (spring in Gramado is from September to November since the city is located in the Southern Hemisphere).

During the Christmas season, Gramado is decked out in lights and wreathes made of recycled plastic pop bottles. Though this may sound odd, the result is very attractive decorations that don't require any water. In Parque Knorr, one of the wealthier subdivisions in the city of Gramado, one can visit Santa Claus's house or Aldeia do Papai Noel because he apparently chooses to spend his off season time in southern Brazil.

Gramado is one of the beautiful cities along the scenic bypass Rota Romântica. The city is also part of the scenic Região das Hortênsias tourist route.

Gramado and it's nearby sister city Canela are akin to a fairy tale world of enchantment. These are definitely tourist cities designed for the average Brazilian to escape the reality and poverty of modern life.