On the west side of the city, which is traversed by BR 277, the road to Ponta Grossa, are the Barigui Park (6km/4mi from the city center) and the Santa Felicidade district. The park, which has an area of 1,500,000sq.m/1,800,000sq.yds, contains a large lake, expanses of forest, sports facilities, a children's playground and a track for model cars. Also within the park are the Automobile Museum and an exhibition center.
On Praça Santos Andrade, a little way east of the Passeio Público, is the Teatro Guaira, Curitiba's leading theatre and one of the most renowned in Brazil.
Address: Guaira Theatre, Curitiba, Parana , Brazil
South of the Cathedral, in Rua Desembargador Westphalen, is the Museu de Arte Contemporânea. It has some 360 items on display, including paintings, sculpture, drawings and printed graphic art by Brazilian and foreign artists.
Address: Museum of Contemporary Art, Rua Desembargador Westphalen 16, Curitiba, Parana , Brazil
Farther south-east is Praça Generoso Marques, with the former Prefecture, an Art Nouveau palace which now houses the Museu Paranense (Paraná Museum), originally founded (in another building) in 1874. Among its 135,000 exhibits the material relating to the Guarani and Kaingang Indians is of particular interest.
Rua Carlos Cavalcanti leads to the Passeio Público, which was laid out in 1866. This park, with an area of 7 hectares/17 acres, is a favorite rendezvous of the people of Curitiba, who like to stroll along the tree-shaded paths and round the lake with its little islets and to visit the zoo and aquarium. Occasionally there are musical performances of various kinds along the avenues.
On the north side of the city are the Centro Cívico and the Bosque João Paulo II, a 4 hectare/10 acre park named after Pope John Paul II. In the park is the Immigrants' Museum, mainly devoted to the Polish settlers in the region, with photographs, domestic equipment and implements illustrating their way of life.
In Rua Mateus Leme, near the intersection with Rua Carlos Cavalcanti, is the Casa Alfredo Andersen, with drawings, paintings, books and personal mementoes of the artist of that name (1860-1935), one the most distinguished painters of Paraná. The house is also used for periodic art exhibitions.
On Largo Cel. Enéas, also known as Largo da Ordem, are some of the oldest buildings in Curitiba: the Franciscan church of São Francisco de Chagas (1737), with the adjoining Museum of Sacred Art; the 18th century church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário; and the Casa Rosário Martins (also 18th century), the second oldest house in the city, with exhibition rooms and the city's historical archives.
Farther out on Rua Mateus Leme, 5km/3mi north of the city center, is the Parque São Lourenáo. Within its 204,000sq.m/244,000sq.yds are an expanse of forest, a lake, a children's playground and a leisure center which runs pottery courses for both children and adults.
The Solar do Barão, in Rua Presidente Carlos Cavalcanti (between the Cathedral and the Passeio Público, is an old mansion which has been renovated and now serves as an art and cultural center. It runs music and theatre workshops and has an art gallery, a function room, a documentation center, a poster museum and a woodcut department.
PR 410, the Rodovia Graciosa (constructed 1873; now a protected national monument) winds its way through the hills, with many bends. In recent years sections of the old paving have been replaced by asphalt. The Rodovia Graciosa branches off BR 116 36km/22mi from Curitiba.
The Railway from Curitiba to Paranagua makes for an interesting journey. Featuring numerous tunnels and bridges, the train ride between the two places is a memorable one.
Avenidas Floriano Peixoto, das Torres and Centenário all lead to the Parque Regional Iguaçu, which lies 13km/8mi south of the city center between the communes of Curitiba and São José dos Pinhais. Within its 3.1sq.km/1.2sq.mi the park offers a variety of attractions - lakes with beaches, fishing, fruit orchards, an expanse of forest and a zoo.
There are several caves open to the public in the area around Curitiba. Nearest to the city are the Bacaetava caves on the road to Rio Branco do Sul, which in the early years of the 20th century was a popular pilgrimage center. Rather farther away is the Lancinhas cave, the largest in Paraná state (1700m/1860yds). The Campinhas cave, with three different entrances, is in the Campinhas State Park, 72km/45mi from Curitiba on BR 476.
Curitiba is just under 100km/62mi from the coast. There are three possible ways through the steep-sided hills of the Serra da Graciosa to the port of Paranaguá.
Near Lapa (69km/43mi from Curitiba) is the Parque Estadual do Monge (area 55 hectares/135 acres), with a swimming pool, sports facilities, a stretch of forest and caves containing ex-votos dedicated to a monk named João Maria who was one of the inspirers of the Contestado War. The park can be reached on BR 476.
The thermal resort of Ouro Fino, 46km/29mi west of Curitiba in the commune of Campo Largo, has in addition to its mineral springs a lake, a stretch of forest, extensive parks and gardens and a swimming pool with alkaline and chalybeate water.
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Old-Time Railway
Curitiba
