In small towns in southern Brazil, where 90% of the population speaks the Italian dialect, life goes on among family-run wineries, historic villages, and customs preserved as in 19th-century Italy.
There are regions in Brazil where time seems to have stopped in the mountains of northern Italy. Cities where 90% of the people speak Italian dialect They preserve rituals, flavors, and landscapes that confuse even European tourists. These are places where wine is made at home, churches shine at Christmas, and routine remains calm, amidst flower gardens and stone houses.
These municipalities, spread mainly across Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, were born from Italian immigration in the 19th century and still maintain their same architecture, the same accent and the same hospitality of their ancestors. These are places where culture, faith, and gastronomy blend in a unique way, revealing a Brazilian Italy alive, welcoming and prosperous.
Nova Trento: the city of wineries and faith
In Santa Catarina, Nova Trento is one of the best examples of cities where 90% of the people speak Italian dialect.
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With around 13 inhabitants, the town maintains a peaceful atmosphere, full of family-run wineries and flower gardens.
The houses, always well-kept, reveal the pride of the descendants of Trento, in northern Italy.
Religiosity also sets the local rhythm.
Nova Trento is home to the sanctuary of Madre Paulina, the first Brazilian saint, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
During Christmas, the main church is covered in colorful lights, transforming the scene into a spectacle of faith and beauty.
Religious and gastronomic tourism boosts the economy, without erasing the rural village atmosphere, where you can still walk peacefully and converse in the language of your ancestors.
Just a few kilometers from Criciúma, Nova Veneza is another jewel of Italian colonization. With 95% of its population descended from Veneto, the city preserves traditions that extend far beyond gastronomy.
The dialect is still spoken on the streets, the stone facades stand the test of time and an original gondola from Venice adorns the main square.
The charm of the place lies in its simplicity: in one afternoon you can walk through the main streets, visit the wineries, have lunch in a typical restaurant and enjoy the view of the hills.
It’s a piece of Italy transplanted to the South of Brazil, where the way of life remains calm, familiar and deeply rooted in the land.
Flores da Cunha: Brazilian wine capital
In Rio Grande do Sul, Flores da Cunha is the municipality that produces the most wine in Brazil, with more than 200 wineries.
The city has 30 thousand inhabitants and keeps the culture of Veneto immigrants alive.
The hills covered with vineyards, the community festivals and charming architecture make the place a must-see destination for those seeking authenticity.
Despite being small, Flores da Cunha is prosperous.
Local industries provide employment and stability, while the winemaking tradition sustains the economy and tourism.
The impeccable houses, many with Alpine inspiration, reinforce the aesthetic care that characterizes all the Italian cities of Serra Gaúcha.
Antônio Prado: historical heritage and film setting
Known as the most Italian city in Brazil, Antônio Prado preserves 48 buildings listed by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage.
Around 90% of its 13 residents are descendants of immigrants from Rovigo and Vincenza.
Walking through its streets is like going back a century in time., among colorful wooden houses and gardens that look like something out of a movie.
And in fact, it was a movie set: the film The Quadrillo, nominated for an Oscar in 1996, was filmed there.
The city, besides its beauty, is also awash with prosperity. It boasts wheat and glass industries, good infrastructure, and a welcoming population.
The result is a rare combination of tradition and development, where the Venetian dialect is spoken, artisanal wine is made and people live with pride in their origins.
The Italian heritage that became Brazilian identity
Those cities where 90% of the people speak Italian dialect They are not just tourist hotspots: they are living testimonies of an immigration that shaped the South of Brazil.
Grape festivals, lunches with homemade pasta and the sound of accordions are a daily reminder that part of the country speaks, sings and dreams in Italian.
When visiting these villages, the visitor will not only find beautiful landscapes, but also a way of life based on community, work and tradition.
A cultural heritage that is renewed in each generation, proving that Italy, in a way, never left Brazil.
Have you visited any of these Italian cities in Brazil? Which one surprised you the most?
Dining and Cooking