São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul

São Francisco de Paula is a city in the Serra Gaúcha of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The municipality covers about 3289.7 sqkm and sits about 112 km from Porto Alegre. As of 2020, the city's population was estimated to be 21,801. The municipality was originally created on December 23, 1902.

The city is a tourist destination and is a link along two official scenic tourist routes: the Região das Hortênsias and the Rota Romântica.

The municipality contains the São Francisco de Paula National Forest, a 1,616 ha sustainable use conservation area created in 1968. It also contains part of the 6655 ha Tainhas State Park, created in 1975.

Climate
São Francisco de Paula features an Oceanic climate (type Cfb), with humid, cool-to-warm summers and humid, cold winters. Snowfalls may occur during winter between July and August. It is the wettest place in Rio Grande do Sul State with more than 2100 mm of rain precipitation per year.