Curitiba Off the Beaten Path

Ggingerbread and candy
house in the Bosque
Alemão

by ahoerner

Another gorgeous park built in the city in honor of the german immigrants who begin to settle in Curitiba in the early 1800's.

In the park visitors can walk on the trail of Hänsel und Gretel (after the tale of Brothers Grimm) and reach the gingerbread and candy house, where usually on saturday afternoons children listen to tales told by the crone that lives in the famous Brothers Grimm tale...

Interesting for kids for sure, but also for grownups looking for some silence, woods smells and some green.

Website: http://www.parques-curitiba.com/bosque-alemao-imigrantes.htm

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Visiting Curitiba?

Read reviews about Curitiba Hotels

Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.


	Passeio Público Tip Rating:

By ahoerner on July 31, 2004

Former main gate of Passeio
Público..

by ahoerner

Passeio Público is the most central and the first park in Curitiba. Built in 1886 it has around 70 thousand square meters (m²) of natural forest on the banks of Belém river. At that time, the park was lighted using fish-oil lamps.

In the 19th century, it became for some time the Bothanical Garden of Curitiba. It was also the first zoo in town and even nowadays visitors still can see some captive animals and a aquarium.

Phone: 41 222 2742

Website: http://www.parques-curitiba.com/passeio-publico-pontos-turisticos.htm

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Train trip to Morretes Tip Rating:

By ahoerner on July 6, 2004

Train trip...
breathtaking landscape.

by ahoerner

Charming and pleasant train trip to the colonial town of Morretes.

Trip takes about 1h30 of breathtaking landscapes of natural atlantic rain forests and mountains.

You can make the round trip by train or take the train to Morretes and the bus back to Curitiba.

In Morretes, do not miss the typical dish called "Barreado" served in any of the restaurants in downtown.
Definitely worth a day trip.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Ucranian Memorial Park Tip Rating:

By ahoerner on July 31, 2004

Ucranian Church at Tingui
Park.

by ahoerner

Curitiba has a variety of influences due to the immigrant waves that began to settle in the surroundings of the old town from mid 1800's.

One of the biggest communities in the city is the ucranian, and the ucranians have also a place dedicated to them in this beautiful town: Tingui Park.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Saturday mornings at the Rua das Flores Tip Rating:

By VdV on March 8, 2004

Children painting, Sat. AM
along Rua das Flores

by VdV

If you happen to stroll down the Rua das Flores (pedestrian mall) in the Centro area, you are likely to come across groups of children painting works of art. The story behind this is that when the pedestrian mall was first configured, some local business owners and some city residents (who favored driving downtown to do their shopping) protested the city blocking off the avenue to automobile traffic. As a gesture to "protect" the new pedestrian mall, scores of children laid out paper and starting painting artwork, in an effort to block members of a local automobile club who were threatening to take the new pedestrian mall "back" for car traffic. The tradition of the children painting protecting the center of civic life and shopping along Rua das Flores has lived on, and every Saturday children continue to gather and paint art.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Visiting Curitiba?

Read reviews about Curitiba Hotels

Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.


	Social eyesores turned into social programs Tip Rating:

By VdV on March 8, 2004

Freeway offramp turned into
social service center

by VdV

In many communities around the world, the area underneath freeway/highway onramps serves as a gathering place and shelter for homeless families and individuals. In Curitiba, the city's social planners have turned these natural gathering places into cafeterias and job training centers, to help the less fortunate get food and nourishment and give them access to social services and assistance programs.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Easy computer access for physically disabled Tip Rating:

Updated By VdV on March 8, 2004

Quadraplegic tool for computer
use

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.)

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Connecto Bus, bringing Internet to the residents Tip Rating:

By VdV on March 8, 2004

Interior of Connecto Bus, free
computer access

by VdV

The city of Curitiba provides many ways for local residents to access computers and the Internet for free. In addition to the "Lighthouses of Knowledge" (see tip in this section), and the Internet facility located in Rua 24 Horas, Curitiba residents also learn about the free computer services in their neighborhood through the Connecto Bus, which travels to a different neighborhood every week. Housed in a bright green bus that provides Internet access via satellite and cable, computer terminals are available for local residents to learn how to use computers. While using the computer terminals on the Connecto bus, residents are informed of other, permanent locations of free community Internet and computer services (such as the Lighthouses of Knowledge.)

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Museu Oscar Niemeyer Tip Rating:

By ahoerner on July 31, 2004

Novo Museu in Curitiba

by ahoerner

This is the newest museum in Curitiba, the Novo Museu (or New Museum), built after the project of the famous brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (the same that projected Brasilia, our Capital).

Visitors can always have interesting exhibitions mainly focused in the culture and arts of Curitiba and Brazil...

Website: http://www.pr.gov.br/mon/

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Lighthouses of Knowledge Tip Rating:

Updated By VdV on December 7, 2005

Exterior: Lighthouse of
Knowledge in every
neighbo

by VdV,
1 more photos

For those interested in community/social programs, education, etc., try to visit one of the city's "Lighthouses of Knowledge." Located in more than 45 neighborhoods throughout the city, the Lighthouses of Knowledge (which literally are lighthouse-like structures) serve as neighborhood libraries, have computer centers with free Internet and computer access for local residents (and turistos!), and are often located adjacent to public schools. The lighthouse beacons also serve as facilities for community policing, helping to ensure safe neighborhoods for the city's residents and children.

Photo 1: Exterior: Lighthouse of Knowledge
Photo 2: Interior: Internet, library, police and other services found inside