The Província de Shiga Square, known as Shiga Square, exists for 34 years on North Side. It is a peace and beauty refuge, in triangle shape, that needs to be better known. Financed by the Japanese government to celebrate the agreement of Brotherhood between Rio Grande do Sul and Shiga, the square was inaugurated on October, 1983.

   Since then, the place has been characterized as a traditional oriental garden and it is contemplated by visitors who get astonished when entering it for the first time. Over than a little lake, Shiga Square has a waterfall, a stone bridge, a kiosk, a fountain, sculptures, trees and bushes.

   On the higher part there is a Buddha monument within plants like azaleas, camellias, bamboos and cherry trees. The square is fenced and can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8h to 12h and from 14h to 18h. The entrance of dogs is not allowed. It is delimited by Plínio Brasil Milano and Cristóvão Colombo Avenues and by Marechal José Inácio da Silva Street, on Passo D’Areia district.

   Reflected on the water mirror, the trees silhouette at Praça Itália form, in its surface, the image of a green carpet which undo itself as the day passes. The picture projected by various species of trees on the artificial lake is just one of leisure and resting nook attractions, inaugurated in 1992, next to Praia de Belas Shopping.

   There are over 10 thousand square meters of garden and areas dedicated to resting and reading, delimited by Borges de Medeiros and Praia de Belas Avenues and by Pery Machado Street, on Praia de Belas district.

   The square was baptized with this name in honour to Italian immigrants who established themselves on the area’s sierra. Other than the replica of San Marco’s Lion, one of Venice’s symbol, it draws attention to another peculiar characteristic: the paved course that has 12 columns aside.

Photos: Daniele Farias