Caxias do Sul's main draw is its Italian heritage and the surrounding wine country of the Serra Gaúcha. The city centre has a handful of interesting buildings and museums, but the real appeal is the landscape — vineyard-covered hills, cantinas serving polenta and grilled chicken, and a wine route connecting Caxias to smaller towns like Bento Gonçalves and Garibaldi. The Festa da Uva (Grape Festival) is the biennial highlight; even outside festival years, the cantinas and adega-restaurants make the area worth exploring.