Stone sculpture immortalizes Italian legacy in Rio Grande do Sul.

The municipality of Bento Gonçalves inaugurated, on Saturday (13), the monument “Legado de Esperança”, in homage to the 150 years of Italian immigration in Rio Grande do Sul.

The sculpture was installed in Rui Lorenzi Square, known as Rose Square, located in front of the Christ the King Church, in the Cidade Alta neighborhood. The location is symbolic because it was Arrival point of the first Italian settlers in the region..

The artwork was sculpted in basalt stone by the artist Paulo Jocemar Miranda. It represents an immigrant couple accompanied by elements such as grapes, wine, and a suitcase. These symbols allude to the cultural baggage brought by the pioneers from Italy.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to have created this work, which expresses a well-deserved tribute to the immigrants," said the sculptor.

The inauguration ceremony marked the closing of the official celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Italian immigration to the municipality. Representatives of cultural organizations, local authorities, and the Italian Consul General in Porto Alegre were present. Valerio Caruso.

“May this statue be not only a witness to the past, but a tool for imagining our future,” said Caruso. “Its purpose aligns very much with what we envision for the sesquicentennial celebration of Italian immigration to Rio Grande do Sul: an opportunity to affirm our identity, as Italians, as Brazilians, as Gaúchos.”

The initiative was conceived by Dorvalino Sonaglio and had the support of several entities from the Italian community in Serra Gaúcha, such as the Circolo Friulano, the Circolo Trentino di Bento Gonçalves, and the União de Imigrantes Trevisani Nel Mondo group. The municipality of Bento Gonçalves He also participated in making the project viable.

According to Mayor Diogo Siqueira, the tribute reinforces the spirit of unity in the city.

“A big city isn’t one with a gigantic population. It’s one with a population that understands what needs to be done for the municipality to grow. And here we have a gigantic city: citizens who think about Bento Gonçalves, who have the drive and purpose to make things happen, and who make us very proud,” he declared.