The reason many tourists come...
by pjallittle
The reason many tourists come to Curitiba is to take the train from Curitiba down through the mountain and jungle all the way to the coast.
You may return on the train or by bus, we came back by bus just for the experience. It is a long ride, but through beautiful forests with the scent of ginger flowers which grow alongside the tracks. There are small stops along the way, unbelievable that people actually live so far away from the city in these very small villages.
The trains are old but run nicely. As far as the eye can see, forest, trees, and flowers. Very cool and as you start downhill toward the ocean, to a smaller city which is actually a major seaport, Paranagua, it gets warmer and then hot. The city of Paranagua is very old, not nearly as spic and span as Curitiba.
Within Curitiba proper, one must visit the Hansel & Gretel Park, the Opera House and the Botanical Gardens. The city is full of parks and memorials. The tour guide and his daughter, who spoke very good English were delightful. She was in the third year of University at what appears to be an excellent school.
Cities are cities, but people make them memorable.
Easy computer access for physically disabled
by VdV
The city and the Instituto Curitiba Informatico has a program, Digitando Futuro, which provides free computer and Internet access for all residents, even the physically handicapped. For example, the Rua 24 Horas, which was designed to be easily accessible for the handicapped, computer access is provided free to all residents. Staff at the computer facility at Rua 24 Horas have equipment that enables the handicapped (e.g., paraplegic, quadraplegic, and even the blind...) to use computer equipment. Staff is on hand to provide assistance and are very friendly (many are local youth who are hired by ICI.)
Colourful Historic Quarter
by mircaskirca
Curitiba is a city with more than 350 years of history. The old town is centred on cobblestoned Largo da Ordem and the neighbouring Praca Garibaldi. This is an area of perfectly preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings where you find bars, restaurants, art and craft galleries, antique shops and cultural centres. Every Sunday (9am-2pm) there is Feira de Artesanato which has a great selection of local handicrafts and cuisine, an exciting meeting point with live music.
Two of Curitiba's oldest churches dominate the historic quarter. Igreja da Ordem on Largo da Ordem is the city's oldest surviving building. Plain outside, the church is also simple inside, its only decoration is typically Portuguese blue and white tiling and late baroque altars. A short distance uphill on Praca Garibaldi is Igreja do Rosario. It dates back to 1737 and was built by slaves in colonial style. The church was completely reconstructed in 1946 in baroque style and the current facade still has original tiles.
Other places of interest in the area are: Curitiba Memorial, a space dedicated to memory, art and culture; neoclasical building Palacio Garibaldi; the oldest surviving Curitiba's house Casa Romario Martins and the Flowers Clock (it has 8 meters in diameter and the flowers are changed every season).
Curitiba
by schnaider
Curitiba is a nice city. Was elected as the Best Brazilian City to do Business and to Live!
Different of almost all the cities you will see in the country. Clean, organized, really cold during winter time and not very hot in summer. People are known to be "the coldest" people in Brazil, whats not 100% true but not 100% false as well.
I live here since 1996.
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tubos
Panoramic Tower
The big boot!
Look at all this food...and it was delicioso too!
