FACTS ABOUT CURITIBA: Curitiba is considered as the greatest city in Brazil of town planning, education and environment. It is a very modern city with approx 1.589.000 inhabitants. The distance to Florianopolis is approx 310km, to Sao Paulo City 410km, to Vila Velha 115km, to Ilha do Mel Island 95km, to Morretes 73km, to Paranagua 100km, to Lapa 67km and to the State Park of Guartela 215km.

HOW IS CURITIBA: The capital of State of Parana, Curitiba City, is the greatest example in Brazil of town planning, education and environment. There are over 30 parks and woods with complete infrastructure for recreation and sports practice, and it became internationally known for its urban solutions, keeps an area of 52 square meters of green per resident – much more than the 16 square meters recommended by the UN. It is a city of eclectic culture and strongly influenced by Italian, German, Polish and Ukrainian immigrants, from which the majority of the population is descendent. This fact is soon noticed when one arrives and observes the architecture, the gastronomy and the local habits. The restaurant options are therefore varied and cater to the most exigent tastes. As for hotel options, the city is also very well served, from cheaper and cozier options to sophisticated

The local government develops programs of recovering rivers and eroding areas, recognized worldwide, and develops an intense work of preservation of its ecosystems. Favored by the pleasant subtropical climate, the region boasts vegetation that follows the climatic variation: At the colder places the araucaria forests are predominant and on the coastal regions there are preserved Atlantic Forest sanctuaries, such as Ilha do Mel Island, Guaraqueçaba Ecologic Station and Superagüi National Park, where large areas of marsh and animals threatened with extinction are preserved.

Between the upland and the coastland, one of the most charming tours can be done along the Imperial Railway – connecting Curitiba to Paranaguá since 1880. It´s 110km long way, contouring the Ocean Mountains, among the Atlantic Forest, going through tunnels, bridges, overpasses and ravines, watered by wonderful cascades. For those who prefer to travel by car, the same route can be followed on Graciosa Highway, which still preserves parts of the original paving from 1873, adorned with kilometers of giant hydrangeas and where, between stops to appreciate the landscape.

During your visit to Curitiba and region, you may taste the typical dish from Paraná State, the “Barreado”. This dish is prepared with jerked beef, bacon and seasonings, cooked for 10 hours on a large ceramic pot closed with wet manioc flour. The result is an unwoven meat, which should be eaten with a delicious mush and cooked banana.

WHEN TO GO / CLIMATE: The climate is hot-temperate. Average temperature in the summer – between the months of December and March – is 21ºC.

EVENTS
Theater Festival
It happens annually, always in the month of March.

Christmas of Light
Event with choir presentations, Christmas Crib contests and decorated homes open for visitors in December. There is an exclusive bus stopping at the main attractions.

ATTRACTIONS
24 Horas Street
The Street that never sleeps is the synthesis of a city which also never sleeps. It is 120 meters long and 12 meters wide. It is composed by 32 arches in metallic tubular structure, trademark of the modern curitibana architecture. There are 34 shops that are open eternally, from the daybreak sandwich to the bank withdrawal; from the pharmacy to the florist; from books to milk for the children. Great meeting point for tourists and curitibanos seeking leisure, pastimes, night life and good eating options. At 24 Horas street it also possible to have free Internet access, day and night. The user just has to schedule a time. It is located between Visconde de Nácar and Visconde do Rio Branco Streets – Center.

Santa Felicidade
Neighborhood where some of the first Italian immigrants arriving in Paraná settled, where they dedicated themselves to the agricultural production, planting herbs, wine and cheese making and willow tress. Almost in front of the church is the cemetery, with the unique pantheon made of 18 chapels in neo-classic style, which became heritage through the Historic and Artistic Heritage. The greatest attraction in Santa Felicidade is to be the gastronomic district of Curitiba, with a large number of restaurants offering typical food and wine from the colony. There are also wineries and wine bars, craft stores and willow furniture, along the Manoel Ribas Avenue.

São Francisco Ruins
A space surrounded by fables, at João Cândido Square. The ruins are made of stone, of what should have been the São Francisco de Paula church, never finished. In 1811 the chapel and the sacristy were finished, but in 1860 the stones that would finish the construction were used to finish the old Matriz tower, currently the Basilica Cathedral Minor of Our Lady of Light. Stories of tunnels and pirates live in the place, today filled with leisure and business spaces, stage and grandstand, forming the “Ruins’ Arcades”.

Mercês Tower
It is at the highest point in Curitiba, allowing a 360 degree vision of the city, from a height of 95 meters. It is managed by Telepar and Curitiba City Hall, which promote video sessions and tourism guidance. Also there is the Telephone Museum. It is located at Prof. Lycio Grein de Castro Vellozo Street, corner with Jacarezinho Street – Mercês. Opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm.

Ópera de Arame / Pedreiras Park
It is one of the emblematic symbols of Curitiba, with tubular structure and transparent ceiling, of great beauty. Inaugurated in 1992, it caters for all types of shows, between lakes, typical vegetation and cascades, on an unique landscape. The Opera is part of the Pedreiras Park, together with the Paulo Leminski Cultural Space, where the Passion of Christ was enacted, and hosted many other big events since 1989, and can receive, in open air, 10 thousand people seating or 50 thousand standing. It is located at João Gava Street, s/n°. – Abranches. Opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 8am to 10pm.

Historic Area
Complex with the oldest buildings in the city. Among these buildings are the Romário Martins House, from the XVIII century and the Church of the Third Order of Saint Francis, from 1737, as well as the architectural examples inspired by the Germans, from the second half of the XIX century. On Sunday mornings, the old stones at the Largo da Ordem and the pavement giving access to Garibaldi Square, with the Rosário Church, the Flowers Clock, the Memory Fountain and the Società Giuseppe Garibaldi make the setting for the Crafts Fair, an exciting meeting point with live music. It is located at Largo da Ordem / Praça Coronel Enéas, Praça Garibaldi – São Francisco.

Tiradentes Square
It is the main one in Curitiba, dominated by the Basilica Cathedral Minor of Our Lady of Light, centennial in 1993. In this area, on the 29th of March, 1693, Curitiba was founded. Anciently known as Largo da Matriz, the square is the city’s initial landmark. In 1880, because of the emperor D. Pedro II visit to Paraná, the Square became known as D. Pedro II. Nine years later, at the Republic, it has received the current name of Tiradentes Square. It is an important public transport terminal. It is a permanent meeting point, bringing fond memories to the common curitibano memory.

Shopping:
Curitiba is widely served with shopping places. Besides historic places like Rua das Flores, the city has the comfort of many shopping centers. Another interesting shopping and leisure option is the 24 Horas Street.

PARKS
Botanic Gardens
Curitiba’s trademark, created to resemble French gardens, rolls out its flower carpet to the visitors right at the entrance. The greenhouse, with a metallic structure, has botanic species that are national reference, and also a water fountain. The native forest is filled with paths for hiking. The Botanic Museum attracts researchers from all over the world. There is a space for exhibitions, library and a theater. It is located at Eng. Ostoja Roguski Street, s/n°. Opens from 6am to 9pm, during summertime; and from 6am to 8pm during the rest of the year.

German Wood
The wood has various features to celebrate and promote the German traditions. There are 38 thousand square meters of native forest, which was part of the old farm from the Schaffer family. The replica of an old wooden church, built in 1933 at the Seminário neighborhood, with neo-gothich decorative elements, shelters a concert hall called Bach’s Oratorium.

Other attractions are the John and Mary path, which tells the Grimm brothers tale, a children’s library, the Philosophers Tower, a wooden observatory allowing a panoramic view of the city and the Ocean Ridge, and the German Poetry Square, with a reproduction of the Casa Mila façade, a German building from the beginning of the last century, originally located in the city center. It is located at Niccolo Paganini Street, corner with Franz Schubert – Vista Alegre (Jardim Schaffer). The Wood opens daily from 6am to 8pm; the Library, from 9am to 5pm; Story Time on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.

Barigüi Park
With an area of 1.4 million square meters, it is one of the biggest parks of the city and definitely the most visited. Not only the city residents and the tourists seek rest in the park. Guinea pigs, night herons, white herons, skunks, crown sparrows, song-thrushes and dozens of other native animals make Barigüi their home. Among the features available in the Park there are: barbeques, kiosks, cycle and model airplanes tracks, multi-sports courts, gym equipment, car park, restaurant, playground, Automobile Museum, Exhibition and Convention Center, Steam Train Station and the Environment Municipal Council headquarters. It is located at BR-277 – Rodovia do Café, Km 0 – Bigorrilho.

Pope’s Wood
Polish immigration memorial, inaugurated on 13th of December, 1980, following the visit from Pop John Paul II to Curitiba, on the previous July. The area of 46,337 square meters was part of the dispossession involving the old Estearina candle factory. The seven log houses composing the memorial are a live remembrance of the faith and battle of the Polish immigrants, with objects such as the old cart, the sour cabbage pipe and the image of the patron saint, the Black Virgin of Czestochowa. In Curitiba, the Polish immigration started in 1871. It is located at Wellington Oliveira Vianna Street, s/n°.- Centro Cívico. Opens daily from 6am – 8pm; Memorial Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 6:30pm.

Iguaçu Park/ Zoo
It is the largest urban park in Brazil, with 8 million square meters. Equipped with car parks, kiosks, bar and snack bar, the park offers many attractions, divided in seven different areas: sports, nautics, fishing, natural wood, public orchards, ecologic sanctuaries and zoo. Here, over one thousand animals from 80 species can be seen: birds from all over South America, reptiles and mammals from many different origins, kept in an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat. It is located at Mal. Floriano Avenue, s/n°. – Alto Boqueirão. Opens from Tuesday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4pm; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 8:30am to 5pm.

Tanguá Park
Inaugurated in November 1996, it has a total area of 450 thousand square feet. Highlights of the park are two quarries linked by a 45 meters long tunnel, which could be crossed by walk, on a pathway over the water. The park also features a jogging track, cycle track, observatory, snack bar and Poty Lazzarotto Garden. It is located at Dr. Bemben Street, s/n° - Pilarzinho.

Tingüi Park
Part of the biggest linear environmental park in the Country, established at the Barigüi river margins, it reminds us of the indians who used to live there, with the statue of Tindiqüera Chieftain. The Ukrainian Memorial is also there, homage to the immigrants, in a replica of an orthodox church, originally built in inland Paraná State, hosting a pêssankas and icons exhibition. It is located at Fredolin Wolf Avenue, s/n° / José Casagrande Street, s/n° - São João. Opens – Park – daily; Memorial – Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm/ Crafts Shop – Tuesday to Sunday, 2:30pm to 6pm.

Universidade Livre do Meio Ambiente
Within the Zaninelli Wood green, the Universidade Livre do Meio Ambiente made Curitiba the first city in the world to keep a space for studies and transmission of knowledge about the environment and ecology to the population. The architectural project, performed with rustic materials, repeats in shape and color the four elements of Nature: earth, fire, water and wind. Despite the rare beauty, the main purpose of the space is to create an environmental conscience in the citizen as a survival factor. It was created on the 5th of June, 1991 – at the current space – inaugurated by the French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau – from 1992. It is located at Victor Benato Street, 210. Pilarzinho. Opens daily, from 7am – 6pm.