The city was strongly influence by Portuguese aesthetics, visible in its large houses with Portuguese ceramics on the façade. Pelotas is very rich in architectural treasures and monuments. One example of the many monuments in the city is a fountain called,
As Três Meninas, which came from France in 1873, and was placed in the center of the city. The largest monument in Pelotas is the iron ''Caixa d'água'', which is located in the Piratinino de Almeida Square, and is the only one of its kind in all of Latin America. It was constructed in 1875, and still holds the daily surplus of water in the city. It sits atop 45 columns, and all of its pieces are made of iron. It has forms that are reminiscent of Asian architecture, though all of the materials used in construction were imported from France. The architecture of the city is distinguished by its churches, the
Grand Hotel and the
Public Market. The construction of the
Public Market was initiated in 1847 and finished in 1853, although between 1911 and 1914 there was a renovation. Its design was fashioned after the
Neoclassical style, and was affected by
Art Nouveau after 1970 when the building was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt. On it there is a clock tower and an iron lighthouse, imported from
Hamburg, Germany, an allusion to the
Eiffel Tower. The
Great Hotel was inaugurated in 1928. The building has four floors, presented in the Art Nouveau style. Today the building is closed and belongs to the city government. The
Church of the Redeemer, also known as the "Shaggy Church", is the headquarters of the Brazilian Episcopalian Church of the Anglican Communion, and became known for its characteristic vegetal covering. It opened its doors in 1892. Its tower is 27 meters tall, and its stained-glass windows are from
New York City. The
São Francisco de Paula Metropolitan Cathedral is considered the city's and the region most important religious edifice, due to its size, beauty and the works of art found within its interior. Its construction began in 1813. The cathedral shelters the image of
Saint Francis of Paola, by an unknown artist, which was brought from
Colônia do Sacramento. The painter Aldo Locatelli, came from Italy especially to make the frescoes on the ceiling and walls of the cathedral, at the invitation of Dom Antônio Záttera, bishop of Pelotas at the time. Although Locatelli would choose to stay in Rio Grande do Sul and make many other important works in Brazil, including paintings and murals, this is considered his greatest work, together with the passion at the
Church of São Pelegrino in
Caxias do Sul. Also deserving attention is the
Museum of the Baroness, which was constructed in the 19th century, occupying an area of approximately 7 hectares, possessing 22 parts and an interior patio. Lining it all were many cultivated and varied gardens. In Pelotas there are still nine sculptures of Antônio Caringi, considered the best gaúcho sculptor. Among them are:
Oferenda, 1942, in bronze, located in the Ecumenical Cemetery São Francisco de Paula;
Monumento ao Colono, 1958, in bronze and granite, in the Primeiro de Maio Square;
Monumento ao Bispo Dom Joaquim Ferreira de Mello, 1942, in bronze and granite, on the Avenue Dom Joaquim;
Sentinela Farroupilha, 1935, in bronze, 20 de Setembro Square;
As Três Idades do Trabalho, in granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square;
Dr. Luiz Pereira Lima, 1958, in bronze, Piratinino de Almeida Square;
Monumento ao Coronel Pedro Osório, 1954, in bronze and granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square;
Monumento à Mãe, 1968, in bronze and granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square;
Monumento ao Dr. José Brusque 1968, in bronze and granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square. ==Notable people==