Eco-friendly Curitiba, the capital of the Parana state, is a multicultural and unassuming city in the south of Brazil. Founded by the Portuguese in 1693 when it was inhabited by the Tupi people, the city’s upsurge began in the mid 19thC following the influx of German, Italian, Polish and Russian immigrants, which in turn gave rise to the wide range of cultures, cuisine and nightlife on offer today. Although not as popular as either Rio or Salvador, Curitiba is a pleasant destination to spend a few days away from the intensity of the larger cities. Explore the well-preserved Cidade Velha, wander the leafy shopping districts or unwind in one of any number of superb parks and woods.
Located only an hour from the coast towards the east of Parana, Curitiba is perfectly situated for those heading to Florianopolis, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro. From the main bus terminal regular services leave for Foz do Iguacu, Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo as wells to Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. Curitiba is a well-planned city that allows for stress free inner-city travel. The best way to go is via the Linha Turismo, a tourist bus that circles around both the main sights and the parks lying in the city suburbs. For those that want to stretch their legs, the parks are full of recreational opportunities. Curitiba Parks - Curitiba is famed for its parks, both inner city and out of town, and it would seem that there is one at the turn of every corner that are all ideal for taking time out and watching the world go by. In the centre, the Jardin Botanico is awash with a myriad of colourful flowers and hosts frequent exhibitions. Also in town, Passeio Publico is a small area of shaded walking trails around a lake, zoo and aquarium. South of the centre is Parque Iguacu, Brazil’s largest urban park with numerous attractions from fishing to sports to orchards to ecological shelters. In the northern limits are two further parks definitely worth checking out. The first, Parque Tangua boasts two lakes and a waterfall linked by a quarry tunnel. The second, Parque Barreirinha is the city’s most popular recreational spot with ponds, playground and barbecue facilities.
Cidade Velha - Curitiba’s historic old town is a great place to explore on foot, meandering along the restored cobble stone streets, lined with 300-year old homes and churches, fascinating art galleries and atmospheric bars and restaurants. Drop by on Sunday and enjoy the huge arts and crafts market.
Curitiba Museums - The city is home to a rich variety of cultures and traditions that are expertly showcased in the many museums. Be sure to check out Museu Metropolitano de Arte (MUMA) for its fine displays of Brazilian arts, Museu Oscar Niemeyer with a focus on visual arts and architecture in a funky building and Museu Paranaense with an amazing 300,000 piece collection of Brazilian ethnographic discoveries and archaeological findings.
Rua das Flores - Curitiba is somewhat of a shopper’s paradise with large contemporary shopping malls complimenting the traditional local markets. Rua das Flores in the city centre is a pedestrianised commercial street home to an abundance of shops and restaurants. Whether shopping or not, this is still a great place to people watch and admire the colourful flowers lining the street.
Curitiba Nightlife - An eclectic mix of cafés, bars, pubs and nightclubs bring Curitiba to life once the sun has gone down, where it is possible to escape the samba beats typical of Brazil. Check out Flor da Favela, a colorful bar influenced by favelas (slums), and Soviet Vodka Bar, with an extensive range of worldwide vodka. Crossroads is the place to go for live rock music and Folha Seca gets lively with an after-office crowd until the early hours. Cats Club is as vibrant as they come where gays, straight and drag queens all come together to party under one roof.