The Best Sight in Curitiba, The South

Background Illustration for Sights

Much as in other Brazilian cities, the history of the downtown district of Curitiba revolves around the first church built in the city, Igreja de São Francisco. In the early days it was the focal point where roads and streets converged, businesses set up shop, the government established its representation, and urban sprawl unfolded. Development in the last 50 years moved the administrative and commercial district away from the original center, where symbols of early days are preserved.

It would be a shame to visit Brazil's environmental capital without seeing one of its many parks, especially the Jardim Botânico, east of downtown.

Bosque Alemão

Jardim Schaffer

The 8-acre German Woods, a park honoring German immigration, is on a hill in the Jardim Schaffer neighborhood. On its upper side is the Bach Oratorium, a small concert hall that looks like a chapel. The park also has a viewing point overlooking downtown, a library with children's books, and a path through the woods called the Trilha de João e Maria ("Hansel and Gretel Trail"), which depicts the Grimm Brothers' tale in 12 paintings along the way. The trail ends at the Mural de Fausto, where there's a stage for music shows.

Rua Nicolo Paganini at Rua Francisco Schaffer, Curitiba, 90820-200, Brazil
041-3568–1087
Sight Details
Free
Park daily dawn–dusk. Library Mon.–Sat. 9–5

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